Kloof couple share a special bond

‘SHARING is Caring’ is one of the mottos that the Kloof couple live by as they practically share everything from hobbies to house chores.

Jeanette and Eddie Lingenfelder celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on January 19.

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“It feels like a lifetime. It has been an exciting journey – we are truly fortunate as very few people get to be married to one person for 60 years,” says a smiling Eddie.

Like most couples, Eddie says their journey has been filled with highs and also the lows, but they have survived through it all.

“We resolve all our problems, we have mutual respect, and because we endured and worked through the hard times, we are now reaping the benefits with a beautiful family that we have and are very proud of,” says Eddie.

Their mutual love of travelling has taken them all over the world.

The love birds met at a beach in Durban. Eddie had flown with a friend in a small aeroplane from Mozambique, and Jeanette was on holiday with a friend.

“We were supposed to be in Durban for just two days, but the weather was bad on the day we were supposed to leave. We had to stay a few more days, and that is when we met,” says Eddie.

The couple exchanged numbers, and they used to chat a lot on the phone. Jeanette worked at a telephone exchange in Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe.

“After a few months, in December, I went to visit Jeannette’s family. She came and visited my family in July the following year, and we got engaged. After that, we only saw each other again a week before we got married,” says Eddie.

They tied the knot at the Baptist Church in Zimbabwe. They travelled to Cape Town for their honeymoon.

Eddie adds that they have had an exciting and adventurous life as he spent a lot of time travelling due to his work. “I worked as an engineer building power stations, worked in sales and marketing, and my company built 27 boiler units all over Africa. I was nicknamed the flying Dutchman,” he says with a smile.

“We once stayed in the caravan, and that is one of our life stages that I definitely do not miss.” Jeanette laughs.

Asked what she loves most about her husband, Jeanette says it is Eddie’s generosity.

“We are just compatible,” she says.

They have four children – three girls and one boy – and eight grandchildren.