Couple celebrates 80 years of love

Henry and Emma Timmermann

By Sarah Shurge – February 14th is a day dedicated to love, however, Henry and Emma Timmermann celebrated 80 years of love before the 14th.
Monday, February 9th, Henry and Emma celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary.
Henry was born in Germany. When he was two years old, his parents emigrated to the United States. When Henry was six, his family moved to Wayne. They attended the German Lutheran St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Emma’s family moved from Florence, Wisconsin to the Detroit area during the Depression, and then during World War II, her family relocated to Wayne. Emma and her family started attending St. John’s Lutheran Church also.
Henry and Emma met for the first time at a Halloween party in the church basement, which was located in Wayne, just over a month after the end of WWII.
The couple went on their first date to a drive-in theater at Schaffer Road and 8 Mile Road. They continued to date going to movies and seeing shows at the Fox theater in Detroit.
They both served as defense workers – Emma, an original Rosie working for Stinson Aircraft in Wayne building the L-13 grasshopper reconnaissance aircraft, and Henry, a German national, was barred from serving in the war and instead participated in the war efforts with his carpentry work building the Norwayne housing complex in Westland.
Henry obtained his US citizenship at the end of 1945, and in January 1946, after three months of dating, Henry asked Emma’s mother if he could marry her daughter.

Henry and Emma were marrried on February 9th 1946. Pictured is the wedding party Bestman Harold Holland, Anne Holland, Bride Emma and Groom Henry Timmermann, and sister Liz Dunkel.

Emma wanted a summer wedding but with that being the busy season for Henry’s carpentry work, they settled on February. On a rainy afternoon in February 1946, Henry and Emma were pronounced man and wife at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wayne.
After their wedding, they rented a house near a pig farm by Hunter and Wayne and started planning for a family.
Emma wanted four kids, Henry wanted six. They compromised and settled on five.
Their first born, Harold, was born in November 1946, Henry a year later, Janet was born in 1951, David in 1956, and Elaine was born in 1960.
They bought property on Manila Street in Westland and Henry spent 10 years building Emma a home with four bedrooms and a large playroom.
Emma stayed home to raise their children. Henry worked at the Ford Wayne plant until the Eisenhower depression and he was laid off. He then worked at the Ford Wixom plant until he retired in 1987.

Family and friends celebrated Henry and Emma Timmermann’s 80th Wedding Anniversary last month.

Five children, 18 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren later, Henry and Emma are still as strong as ever.
Their relationship was built out of mutual respect and centered on faith.
The couple has visited all 50 states – including a 3-month trip when they drove to Alaska, and flying to Maui, Hawaii to celebrate their 60th anniversary courtesy of their children.
Last month on Sunday, January 18th, Emma celebrated her 100th birthday and 80th wedding anniversary to Henry in the gymnasium at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Surrounded by family and friends, Henry and Emma’s love was celebrated and Emma was honored for all the extraordinary work she has done throughout her 100 years of life.
The Michigan Rosies (Rosie the Riveter Association of Michigan) presented Emma with a certificate for doing her part during WWII. The Wayne Mayor presented a certificate to Emma for her 100th birthday, as well as a certificate to both Henry and Emma for their 80th anniversary.
Both Henry and Emma are members of the Wayne Historical Society.
Congratulations to Henry and Emma on 80 years of love!