Highschool Sweethearts
   

High school sweethearts, Steve and Rose (Raithel) Sullivan will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary on March 20, 2010.  The couple have two sons and two grandsons and two granddaughters.

They lived in Rock Island for most of their married years except for four years they spent on a lake Southeast of Galesburg and a short time in Texas when Steve was in the Army.  They retired to Erie, IL to be closer to their oldest son and his family.

Steve retired from Modern Woodmen of America eight years ago where he handled complaints for 21 of his 36 years of service.  Rose retired three years ago from John Deere Health Care where she was a Credentialing Coordinator, screening doctors and facilities for inclusion in the HMO plan.

Today, when they are not  with their grandchildren, they spend much of their time gardening.  Rose says, "We opted for more flowers than grass in our yard."   

Rose also plays keyboard and reads.  Mysteries are her favorite.

Steve likes to read also and enjoys American history.   In addition, he has a passion for genealogy and old family pictures.  In a spare room in their home, he has a table where he spreads out his work to look for clues for the family tree he is making for his grandchildren. 

It's a winter time hobby though and  Rose "encourages" him to clean it up and tend to his flowers in the summer.

Last but not least, they enjoy the peace of just sitting on their screened-in porch enjoying their yard.  "We worked hard for it," Steve says.

Every winter, they look forward to some time in a warmer climate, usually Florida.  Next year, however, they are headed to San Antonio.  Steve has followed the San Antonio Spurs basketball team throughout the years.  They hope to take in a game while they are there., but their primary motivation for the trip is to take in such sights as The Alamo and The River Walk.

During high school, Steve played forward on the basketball team.  He went by the nickname there of "Silky".   Jan Summers, another team member,  became a buddy of his.  He also worked most afternoons after school.  His favorite high school memory is the basketball team going to state.

Rose still sees some of her high school friends on a regular basis -  Marcia Smith Voltz, Linda Soyke Haake, Pat Clark Malmloff, Carla Hammerlund McGreevey.  They try to get together monthly.

Steve remembers Rose's favorite memory as being him...but Rose recalls it a little differently. 

"I liked the games, the dances, just the feeling of closeness we had as a class," she said.  "I wonder if the kids these days are able to have those same experiences."

They would love to hear from you.  Email them at:  z.do.da@hotmail.com