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Couple celebrates 80 years of love

By Sarah Shurge wanted six. They compromised and
February 14th is a day dedicated settled on five.
to love, however, Henry and Emma Their first born, Harold, was
Timmermann celebrated 80 years of born in November 1946, Henry a
love before the 14th. year later, Janet was born in 1951,
Monday, February 9th, Henry and David in 1956, and Elaine was born
Emma celebrated their 80th wed- in 1960.
ding anniversary. They bought property on Manila
Henry was born in Germany. Street in Westland and Henry spent
When he was two years old, his par- 10 years building Emma a home
ents emigrated to the United States. with four bedrooms and a large play-
When Henry was six, his family room.
moved to Wayne. They attended the Emma stayed home to raise their
German Lutheran St. John’s children. Henry worked at the Ford
Lutheran Church. Wayne plant until the Eisenhower de-
Emma’s family moved from Flo- pression and he was laid off. He then
rence, Wisconsin to the Detroit area worked at the Ford Wixom plant
during the Depression, and then dur- until he retired in 1987.
ing World War II, her family relo- Five children, 18 grandchildren,
cated to Wayne. Emma and her 25 great grandchildren, and 15 great-
family started attending St. John’s great grandchildren later, Henry and
Lutheran Church also. Emma are still as strong as ever.
Henry and Emma met for the Their relationship was built out
first time at a Halloween party in the of mutual respect and centered on
church basement, which was located faith.
in Wayne, just over a month after the The couple has visited all 50
end of WWII. states – including a 3-month trip
The couple went on their first when they drove to Alaska, and fly-
date to a drive-in theater at Schaffer ing to Maui, Hawaii to celebrate their
Road and 8 Mile Road. They contin- 60th anniversary courtesy of their
ued to date going to movies and see- children.
ing shows at the Fox theater in Last month on Sunday, January
Detroit. 18th, Emma celebrated her 100th
They both served as defense birthday and 80th wedding anniver-
workers – Emma, an original Rosie sary to Henry in the gymnasium at
working for Stinson Aircraft in St. John's Lutheran Church.
Wayne building the L-13 grasshop- Surrounded by family and
per reconnaissance aircraft, and
Henry, a German national, was Henry and Emma Timmermann See 80 YEARS, page 6
barred from serving in the war and
instead participated in the war ef-
forts with his carpentry work build-
ing the Norwayne housing complex
in Westland.
Henry obtained his US citizen-
ship at the end of 1945, and in Jan-
uary 1946, after three months of
dating, Henry asked Emma’s mother
if he could marry her daughter.
Emma wanted a summer wed-
ding but with that being the busy sea-
son for Henry’s carpentry work, they
settled on February. On a rainy after-
noon 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. Henry and Emma were marrried on February 9th 1946. Pictured is the wedding party Bestman Harold Holland, Anne Holland,
Emma wanted four kids, Henry Bride Emma and Groom Henry Timmermann, and sister Liz Dunkel.
The Wayne Dispatch · February 2026 · 3