Clope, 65th
Gary and Suzanne Clope of Caledonia celebrated their 65th wedding with family during a Mass and special anniversary blessing at St. Rita’s Catholic Church.
The couple was married Nov. 16, 1957 at St. Florian Catholic Church in West Milwaukee.
They met at a St. Catherine’s High School basketball game in Racine in 1955 and went to a movie on their first date.
Their happiest moments together were having their children.
Gary retired in 1994 after working as a dispatcher at Wisconsin Electric for 37 years.
He played baseball and softball in the Racine City League for more than 35 years, and was a member of three consecutive City Tournament championships with DeRangos. Gary was also an active bowler and each summer grew an abundant garden, hosting a summer corn roast for family and friends. Today he still gets out to his smaller tomato and zucchini garden.
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Suzanne was a medical assistant at Racine Medical Clinic for 27 years before retiring in 2003.
She was deeply involved at St. Rita’s, serving as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, and was a member of the Christian Mother’s Group for more than 40 years. She also volunteered at the Parish Festival and at All Saints’ Gift Shop. Suzanne also is a seamstress and loves playing bridge.
They both enjoy going to Florida during the winter.
The couple has five children: David (Jane) Clope of Racine; Scott (Lauri) Clope of Wales; Gail (Bob) Stedman of Waukeska; Laura Black of Milwaukee; and Jane (Ian) Connaughton of Sturtevant. They also have 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
