Thirty-three Valentine’s Days ago, on a balmy winter evening in the Ontario Christian Fellowship Chapel, a couple vowed to spend the rest of their lives with each other. And to this day, they are still fulfilling that promise.
Gunther and Jayne Stahlke of Springfield Township first met at a Christian camp in Indiana eight months prior to their wedding.
A native of southern Brazil, Gunther Stahlke expressed that he had been praying for a year about his future wife. Looking at her, he reflected, “When I saw you for the first time I knew right away that I had to meet you because I just fell in love with you.”
Jayne Stahlke, whose hometown is within Cleveland, shared that the feelings were mutual. She, too, had been praying for her future spouse, she said. “We each had a confident and quiet peace about us being together after we met,” she said.
“So confident that during our third conversation I proposed,” added Gunther Stahlke.
Valentine’s Day fell on a Saturday during the year they were planning to get married. By having it on that day in particular “it made it more romantic,” said Jayne Stahlke. “Looking back, love has become the trademark of our lives, so to me that signals a very significant beginning.”
Prior to saying their ‘I do’s’ on Feb. 14, 1981, the two shared breakfast together and enjoyed some family time.
“I didn’t really know what to do that day because I was so excited about everything,” said Gunther Stahlke.
Then, at 6 p.m. that evening, Jayne Stahlke walked down the aisle to meet her groom, carrying with her a white porcelain oil lamp. “Our marriage started with God bringing us together and so instead of carrying a bouquet down the aisle, I carried a white porcelain oil lamp, which was lit to reflect Matthew 25:1—‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.’”
Several students who belonged to Jayne Stahlke’s art class at Mansfield Christian School (MCS) helped serve the dinner and members of OCF church baked desserts for the reception, which was held in the fellowship hall at OCF.
They kept the ceremony and reception simple, the Stahlke’s said. Before departing to their honeymoon destination in Niagara Falls, they shared a piece of their three tiered, heart-shaped wedding cake.
Each year since that day, the two celebrate their anniversary by dining together and sometimes enjoying a one night getaway. “There’s always some element of spontaneity,” said Jayne Stahlke.
Currently, Jayne is retired from MCS and Gunther is a business teacher at Mansfield Senior High. Together they have four sons: Andrew, Sam, Nate, and Zac.
“We consider ourselves as each other’s best friend and we enjoy doing things together. Years of marriage have not made things dull,” said Gunther Stahlke. Jayne Stahlke finished, saying, “They’ve gotten more exciting. The best adventures are yet to come.”
“We consider ourselves as each other’s best friend and we enjoy doing things together. Years of marriage have not made things dull,” said Gunther Stahlke.
