James and Geraldine Schave from Sterling will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary. Geraldine (Gerry) from Athens, Wis., and James from Wausau, Wis., were married on June 15, 1957 in Pekin, Ill.

Gerry and James were introduced by a mutual friend; Gerry still fondly remembers James' "Buckskin jacket with the fringe" which caught her attention. As an air traffic controller, James was reassigned to Peoria, Ill. After a two-year courtship they were married. James was transferred to Minneapolis-St Paul Airport where he worked for 17 years. Along the way they became parents to four children: Mark, Kathy, Beth and Tom.

In 1975 the family moved to Anchorage. James worked for the FAA while Gerry volunteered for several different organizations: Bishops Attic, Providence Hospital, Family Crisis Center and the Food Bank.
The family enjoyed many summers camping and fishing on the Kenai Peninsula. In retirement the Schaves moved to Sterling on the banks of the Kenai River where they entertain family and friends frequently, this includes their four children, 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Their winters are spent in Sun City West, Ariz.
Jim and Gerry's marriage has enriched the lives of many friends and family.