60 years of marriage for David and Mary Psenak

The 60-year wedding anniversary of David and Mary (Harris) Psenak was celebrated with a barbecue party in June at the Psenak home in Palmer.

The event brought guests from Alaska, Washington and Ohio to honor the couple for their years of commitment and family devotion. Their children in attendance included daughter Vicki Psenak from Austinburg, Ohio, Jim Psenak from Palmer and Sharon Psenak from Sequim, Wash. Also traveling to the event were two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren. Additional local guests included five grandchildren.

Mary and Dave met in Ohio in 1948, introduced to each other by Mary’s older brother, Jim Harris. Six months later, on March 28, 1949 they were married in Kentucky. They returned to Ohio where they lived until 1969. In June of 1969 they began the next chapter of their lives as they packed up their Suburban and travel trailer and headed to Alaska, The Last Frontier. Dave worked on the North Slope and Mary began a career selling real estate where she worked until she retired in 2001. Dave eventually began his own construction company and the couple now live in a beautiful home he built in 1975.

The actual anniversary of their 60 years of marriage was spent in Fairbanks, quite unplanned. Mary and Dave were returning from a trip to New York City where they had been guests at a concert put on by The Smile Train. It featured one of their favorite entertainers, the Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan.

On returning home, their plane which was to land in Anchorage was diverted to Fairbanks due to the eruption of Mt. Redoubt. They were fortunate to have a room as they were the last guests to check into an already full hotel. Their youngest son, Dale Psenak who resides in Palmer and was unable to attend the barbecue was a part of their special occasion also. He drove to Fairbanks at 3 a.m., to pick them up from the hotel and deliver them to their home in Palmer.

Their celebration on June 27 was to honor them with love and appreciation as they were surrounded by their many family members.