Richard and Mary Janssens of Monroe are observing their 65th wedding anniversary today.

Last month, they were honored during a Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, the same church where they were married. They received a wedding anniversary blessing from Father David Burgard, pastor.

Following Mass, a reception was held at Monroe Golf and Country Club for approximately 80 guests, including family members, friends and several members of their original wedding party. The Kielbasa Kings Polka Band played music similar to the music played on their wedding day. The couple’s children composed a song tribute to their parents which emphasized important events throughout the couple’s life.

Mr. and Mrs. Janssens were married Sept. 8, 1956.  The couple met when they were sophomores in high school. Mary attended St. Mary’s Academy and Richard attended Catholic Central.

After high school, Richard left to serve in the Army during the Korean War and Mary went off to Marygrove College.

After serving in the Army, Mr. Janssens worked as a power plant operator at Fermi I and then helped to open Fermi II, where he worked for a total of 37 years. He also was a self-employed farmer, growing primarily wheat, soybeans and corn. He still farms on his 25-acre farm.

Mrs. Janssens stayed at home to raise their six children and then returned to the workforce several years later and worked for Monroe Public Schools as a community education agent for 27 years.

Both volunteer in the community and are members of the Monroe Farm Bureau and were Farm Bureau Promotion in Education co-chairs for several years, giving agricultural presentations to children in their classrooms.

Currently Mr. Janssens serves as a Monroe Township trustee.

The couple also has 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.