Dr. Rollan J. and Carol (Loucks) Gongwer, formerly of the Wakarusa and Goshen area, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
They were married Nov. 7, 1959, at Bethel United Missionary Church, Wakarusa, by her brother, the Rev. Paul Loucks, assisted by the Rev. Venus Arnold and the Rev. Simon Gingerich.
The Gongwers have four children, Miriam (Kerry) Kwast, Tucson, Ariz., Maj. James (Charlotte) Gongwer, Oklahoma City, Okla., Sandra (Marc) Abla, Decatur, Ill., and Jeffrey (Amanda) Gongwer, Mount Enterprise, Texas. They have nine grandchildren.
The Gongwers celebrated their anniversary with an Alaskan cruise in August, and earlier this year celebrated with their children and grandchildren in Branson, Mo.
He practiced optometry in Cassopolis, Mich., from 1968 until 1984, when he accepted a commission in the U.S. Public Health Service and practiced optometry for the Indian Health Service for the next 20 years on various American Indian Reservations.
She worked as a librarian, substitute teacher and served in various school lunch programs on the reservations.
The Gongwers retired to Oro Valley, North Tucson, Ariz., in May 2004.
They are active with The Gideons International and their local church, Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene, where they plan activities and trips for the seniors of the church and the Arizona District Nazarene Churches.
