HANCOCK - Ruth Jean (Wiedenhoefer) and Gordon Barkell of Hancock will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on March 24.
The couple both graduated from the Lake Linden-Hubbell High School and were married at Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Hancock on March 24, 1951.
Gordon went on to teach, first in Muskegon and than Hancock after graduation from college and retired in 1990 after 26 years as the superintendent of the Hancock Public Schools.
Ruth Jean was a homemaker and active in church an community activities.
They raised four children: Jan (Dave) Love of Lansing, Joy (Mark) Dennis of Hancock, Debi (Dave) Hineline of Richland Center, Wis., and Dean. Their only son Dean died in 1979 as the result of an airplane crash while working for then-State Representative D.J. Jacobetti in Lansing.
They have 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
The couple will celebrate the anniversary in July with a family dinner.