BOTKINS — Donald “Don” and Madonna “Donna” Ellinger, of Botkins, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Don and the former Donna Eilerman were married on a pleasant and sunny Sept. 5 in 1970. The ceremony was officiated by Donna’s two uncles, the Rev. Herbert and the Rev. William Eilerman at Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins. Witnesses to the wedding were the bride’s sisters Bernadette Eilerman, Doris Eilerman and Margaret Eilerman, and Connie (Manger) Butcher, a mutual friend who introduced Don and Donna to each other. Gentlemen serving as groomsmen were Don’s brother Robert Ellinger, Donna’s brother John Eilerman, Roger Mack, Dennis Huelskamp, and Richard Naseman. Mass servers were Herbert Eilerman and Mike Leugers.
Following the ceremony enroute to the reception, the wedding party stopped for a surprise visit to Donna’s elderly neighbors, Herman and Bertha Poppe. A dinner and reception was held at the Knights of Columbus in Minster, with music provided by the newly formed “Crystal Blue Band.”
Don and Donna are the parents of Beth and Timothy Gehert, of Anna, Donald “DJ”Jr. and Denise Ellinger, of Botkins, Jane and David Dwenger, of St. Marys, and Patrick and Holly Ellinger, of Wapakoneta. They have 15 grandchildren, Josephine, Anthony, Caroline, Benjamin and Madeline Gehret; Dylan Steinke-Ellinger, Ella, and Molly Ellinger; Samantha, Nickolas, Henry and Joseph Dwenger; and Luke, Leah and William Ellinger.
Don is the son of the late Marcella (Ellinger) Fox, of Missouri. He is the twin brother of the late Robert and Shirley Ellinger, of Lima, and the brother of Barbara and Louis Royer, Jeanie and Robert Lindsey, Linda and Randy Brent, Buddy Fox and Daniel Tinnen, all of Missouri.
Donna is the daughter of the late Joseph and Olivia Eilerman, of Botkins. She is the sister of Bernadette and Louis Seger, of Troy, Doris and Clem Prenger, of Harpster, John and Jennifer Eilerman, of Wapakoneta, Herbert Eilerman, of Botkins, and Margaret and James Stang, of Russia.
The couple has made their home in Botkins and enjoys attending their granchildren’s sporting events and raising flowers.
