John & Judy’s 60th Anniversary

Happy 60th Anniversary,

John & Judy!

Celebrating the milestones of life together

Be sure to visit the Guestbook to share memories and best wishes.
  • John and Judy started dating in 1956 while they were students at Sterling High School.
Looks like prom! Judy says John was her prom date.
John studying at Judy’s house in 1958.
Judy holds a kitten John gave her in 1958.
What a cute couple!
John and Judy pose next to John’s favorite car ever, his 1952 Ford Victoria.
You’re invited!
  • Aug. 28, 1960: John Anthony Engelland married Judith Clare Buel at Sterling Methodist Church.
What a beautiful bride.

Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married… Lucky for Judy, the church is right next door.
  • Fall 1960 – Spring 1961: John and Judy lived in Lawrence, Kansas, where John completed his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas and Judy worked in the math department at Strong Hall.
Via telegram, a job offer with a pay of $585 a month.
  • Fall 1961: John and Judy moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where John worked at Sandia Laboratory building and testing sounding rockets. While at Sandia, John designed payload mechanisms for sounding rockets used for upper atmosphere testing in support of the Department of Energy’s atomic weapons program.  During this time, John gained hands-on experience launching the sounding rockets at test ranges in Tonapah, NV and Kauai, HI. Judy traveled with him on a few months-long trips to Hawaii. While working at Sandia, he received a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico.
Rocket men at Barking Sands, Hawaii, the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
What do you get when you mix a ranch-style home and a storybook cottage? Judy and John’s first home in Albuquerque.
Judy’s parents, James and Barbara Buel, enjoyed visiting the young couple in Albuquerque. Little brother Bob is thinking deep thoughts in the background. Sister Sally may be snapping this photo.
John’s family also visited them in New Mexico. Here’s John’s mom Evelyn Engelland and brother Rod.
Playing with Tiloni in the backyard in Albuquerque. Here’s a fun story from John’s brother Jim and sister in-law Sue who also lived in Albuquerque during that time: John really enjoyed going back to the farm and he thought nothing of working a full day on Friday and at the end of the day, Judy and Sue met us in the car (already packed() and we drove straight through the night to the farm.  The interesting part was the extra passenger on board ~ ~  A dog named Tiloni ~ ~ all of us in a little Nash Rambler.  John had purchased a one wheel trailer that fastened to the back bumper.  He then fastened Tiloni’s dog house on the trailer and closed the door.  The trailer kept bobbing up and down through the night the entire distance.  We were never sure if Tiloni ever fully recovered!!
  • November 1963: John and Judy become parents upon the arrival of their first child, Shawn Anthony Engelland.

Baby makes three! Shawn’s first Christmas.
  • 1966-1974: John and Judy move back to Kansas. John goes to work at the Beech Aircraft Missile Systems Division in Wichita. John and Judy move to a farm in Rose Hill so John can farm after work and on weekends.
  • March 1967: John and Judy welcome their second child, Mark Alan Engelland.
Engineer/Farmer John already has future farmer Mark behind the wheel of a tractor!
  • January 1970: Here’s baby number three, Brent Lee Engelland.
Couldn’t resist including this pic of the cool couple, circa November 1970, which appears to come from the same photo shoot as the shot of baby Brent above.
  • 1974: John, Judy and their three boys move to the family farm near Sterling. John takes over as the farm operator while Judy cares for her busy family. John and Judy still live in the farmhouse, which they’ve expanded and updated over the years.
  • December 1986: Shawn marries Sandra Jean Crider.
  • July 1991: Mark marries Sarah Beth Manweiler.
  • November 1991: John and Judy become grandparents when Rachel Elizabeth Engelland is born to Shawn and Sandra.
  • May 1992: Another granddaughter arrives! Mark and Sarah welcome Elizabeth Grace Engelland.
  • June 1992: Brent marries Laura Elizabeth Dillon.
  • November 1994: From parents to three boys to grandparents to three girls as Rebekah Jean Engelland is born to Shawn and Sandra.
  • February 1997: First grandson arrives with the birth of Nathan Alan Engelland to Mark and Sarah.
  • December 1997: Another grandson is welcomed, Dillon John Engelland born to Brent and Laura.
  • May 1998: Another granddaughter makes her debut. Anna Clare Engelland is born to Shawn and Sandra.
  • April 2000: We’re on a roll with another granddaughter, Hannah Elizabeth Engelland born to Brent and Laura.
  • August 2000: John, Judy, their sons, daughters in-law and grandkids travel to Red River, New Mexico, to celebrate the 40th anniversary.
  • July 2001: John and Judy welcome grandson Jacob Christian Engelland, born to Mark and Sarah.
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  • July 2002: Grandchild No. 9 arrives with the birth of Hayley Evelyn Engelland to Brent and Laura.
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  • December 2009: An early 50th Anniversary celebration takes place as John and Judy take their kids and grandkids on a Caribbean cruise.
  • May 2010: John and Judy welcome two more granddaughters, Marianna Hope Engelland and Evelyn Joy Engelland, adopted by Mark and Sarah.
  • Christmas 2010: Celebrating for the first time with a lively crew of 11 grandkids. Yeehaw!
  • May 2017: Granddaughter Elizabeth marries Christopher Dean Thacker.
  • March 2019: Grandson Nathan marries Emma Marie Thacker.
  • August 2020: John and Judy become great grandparents as Nathan and Emma welcome Elliot Alan Engelland.
  • Aug. 28, 2020: John and Judy are celebrating 60 years of marriage!

Please visit the Guestbook to share stories and blessings with John and Judy