A pair from Rhineland-Palatinate marks 80 years of matrimony.
In 1944, Gottfried and Ursula got married, making them the longest married couple in Germany, according to the authorities in Rhineland-Palatinate. On their 80th wedding anniversary, they were paid a visit by the Minister President.
Gottfried, now 102, knew he wanted Ursula from the moment he met her while working together in Berlin. They got married soon after - 80 years ago. The State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate conducted research on their marriage, establishing them as the longest married couple in the country. The Minister President, Malu Dreyer, congratulated them personally.
"We didn't fall in love right away," the 98-year-old Ursula remembers of their wedding. At 19, she was already married to a 22-year-old man called Gottfried, who'd come to Berlin from Romania the year before. "Love at first sight? No," she says. But she admits, "He was persistent. He wanted me. And I didn't mind." At first, they lived in Frankfurt an der Oder, Ursula's hometown. When Gottfried was drafted in February 1945, he returned home on Christmas Eve from captivity.
"We had an eventful marriage," the jubilee says. In late 1952, the couple moved with their three young children from Frankfurt to Gottfried's brother in the Lower Rhine. The family spent nearly a year in his apartment, before they had their own place. After this, they lived near Siegburg, where Ursula worked as a school secretary, and Gottfried built submersible pumps.
Gottfried loved to spend time with his wife and always accompanied her when she travelled, which was a common occurrence in their lives. They engaged in countless conversations about their past experiences, often reminiscing about their trips and stops over the years.
"We managed to get married the very next day"
"There were a few bumps along the way," recalls the centenarian. The necessary paperwork couldn't be found, as the Berlin registry office responsible had been bombed. "Then the phone calls started," says Schmelzer. The papers had been kept in the Harz Mountains. Schmelzer quickly set off on a mission to retrieve them and paid a visit to the registry office. "We managed to get married the very next day."
Their journey continued with an escape from East Germany in 1952. The couple, along with their three children, left everything behind and fled to the Western part of the country. "We had a long journey," the jubilee reflects. The family eventually settled with one of Gottfried's brothers in the Lower Rhine, where they lived in the living room for almost a year.
Once housed in their own apartment, Gottfried worked in a mine at night, while his wife made ends meet during the children's school hours. "We always felt like there was a strong connection between us," recalls Wolfgang, their son. The family eventually moved to Bad Sobernheim in the Bad Kreuznach district, where Ute's leather workshop flourished. The business relocated to an old mill which was close to their home, allowing Gottfried to help out after retirement. Now, a granddaughter runs the family business.
The couple's secret to their long marriage is simple. "I still love him and he loves me," Ursula shares. "We compliment each other well," Gottfried says. They also possess a strong and united family, with three children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Gottfried, an avid crossword puzzle fan, maintains physical activity and tries to stay healthy after a fall forced him to depend on a home helper. "I've always regarded it as crucial to be fair with others and stay honest," Ursula adds, "and it's been a family thing." The couple is grateful for their relationship and the life they've shared together.
"We're very fortunate to have led this life"
As the couple looks back at their lives, family remains the focal point of their existence. Wolfgang talks about how thankful he is for his parents' support and guidance, saying, "We had the sense that they were always present for us." During his own childhood, he saw them as a "team."
Gottfried and Ursula moved to the Bad Kreuznach district seventeen years ago to be near their daughter Ute's leather workshop in an old mill. After his retirement, Gottfried lent a hand, and now, a granddaughter operates the business.
The vivacious 102-year-old is proud of his history and remains passionate about crossword puzzles. After suffering a fall that led to the need for home help, he reflects on how life has generally treated them well. "Our family is something special," Ursula says with a smile.
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In recognizing their extraordinary love story, the International Record Keepers added Gottfried and Ursula's record-breaking 80 years of matrimony to their database, highlighting Rhineland-Palatinate as the place where the longest-married couple in the international community resides. Despite facing challenges such as losing necessary paperwork due to war damage, Gottfried and Ursula's commitment to one another allowed them to overcome obstacles, solidifying their love life and eventual relocation to the Lower Rhine, which became an essential part of their shared international journey.
Source: www.ntv.de
