[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12401]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRUDY AND PAUL PEUKERT CELEBRATE 80 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 9, 2002

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 22, 2002, Mr. and Mrs. 
Trudy and Paul Peukert will celebrate 80 years together as man and 
wife.
  Trudy was born July 7, 1904 and this year will celebrate her 98th 
birthday. Paul was born February 26, 1901 and is 101 years old. He was 
one of 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls, and is the only surviving 
member of his family. Both were born in Germany, and were married in 
Sandorf, Germany on July 22, 1922. Ironically, before they were 
married, Trudy's mother pulled her aside after assessing Paul's small 
stature--he had to compete with 11 other children for food and was 
quite skinny--and advised her not to marry him because he looked sickly 
and surely would leave her a young widow.
  In 1923, at the relatively young age of 22, Paul left his new bride 
and infant daughter and immigrated to America. In 1925 he had worked 
and saved enough to bring Trudy and their daughter Johanna to the U.S., 
and the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Paul worked for 
Chevrolet Motors for 30 years. They have been American citizens for 
over 65 years.
  Paul and Trudy have been blessed with two daughters, four grandsons, 
eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. For the last 
17 years, the Peukert's have called Greenfield, Wisconsin home. They 
own and live in their own home, still enjoy tending their flower 
gardens and attribute their longevity to good, clean living. They are 
also active voters.
  So it is with great pride that I congratulate Mr. & Mrs. Peukert on 
their longevity and unending commitment to each other. Their 
relationship is inspiring and stands as a testament to life-long love 
and enduring friendship.

                          ____________________