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Readers respond with 'sweetest things'

The Gazette asked readers to share some of the sweetest things their loved ones have done for them.

Here are excerpts from their responses:

Gail Manogue of Janesville: "Even though my husband was a classmate and a neighbor, we never dated until he was home on leave from the Marines. I mentioned to him different times that I wish he had not sold his Marine dress blues uniform as I never saw him in it.

"On our 40th wedding anniversary, our children gave us an anniversary party. When it came time for the DJ to play our wedding song, Dave was nowhere to be had. I am waiting on the dance floor. Finally, Dave came out of a closed door with a dress blues uniform on. He had planned the surprise for months.

"Tears streamed down my face. I could not stop them.

"It was a wonderful day I will never forget."

Janet Zoellner, who lives between Janesville and Beloit: "We were married in the winter of 1978 in South Dakota. Times were very tough as we tried to make it work on a small dairy farm.

"There was no money for gifts for either one of us, but I received the sweetest bouquet ever when my husband, Lee, scouted out and dug up a piece of South Dakota sod with a beautiful pasqueflower blooming in the middle.

"We never did make the farm work, but 35 years later we are still together, and I've never received a more beautiful bouquet than that long ago precious gift of a simple prairie flower."

Warren Smith of Janesville: "My sweetheart makes every day seem like heaven on Earth. She deserves more than I could ever give her.

"For example, when I was 8 years old, I asked Santa for a Red Ryder BB gun, which cost $2.98. Instead, I received a plain BB gun that cost $1.50. I never forgave Santa and retold the story for more than 60 years.

"On my 80th Christmas, my sweetheart gave me a Red Ryder BB gun. Cost was $30. I forgave Santa and think every day, 'Better late than never.' However, the gun seems so hard to reload with my aging hands, and the target seems difficult to hit wearing trifocals and bifocals.

"Thank you, sweetheart, for one of the sweetest things you did for me. My sweetheart is my wife, Adele Smith."

Debbie Joiner of Janesville: "I'm always anxious for the blooming of daffodils. After a long winter, I desperately need color, and daffodils promise that spring is right around the corner.

"Last Valentine's Day, my boyfriend (husband now), Jim, went to a local flower shop. On Valentine's Day, he surprised me with daffodils and a beautiful wind chime.

"Spring came early last year, and I was very grateful for the thoughtfulness and the handsome guy that knew just what I wanted some spring. By June 29th, we married."

Kim Groshek of Jefferson: "Twelve years ago, I signed up to run my first marathon. I rigorously trained for the Madison marathon. When it came time for me to pick up my packet, two days before the event, I started to chicken out.

"So my husband said he would run it with me, even though he had not really trained for the event.

"Just knowing he was running the marathon gave me a kick-start to do it. My husband was very stiff and limping the entire week after the marathon. We both learned how fun it is to try something new together and support each other.

"Five marathons and 53 half-marathons later, I fully understand the commitment that it takes to keep a relationship alive. We support each other along the way, with persistence, forgiveness and love."

Nicky Knoke of Janesville: "My husband, Tyler, is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Things are rough sometimes, but no matter how busy we are with our schedules or the kids, he always makes time to do sweet little things for me.

"Last week, I had a really long and hard day at school and work. When I came home from work, he told me there was a surprise in the bathroom. I found a nice hot bubble bath with candles and music playing.

"It was one of the sweetest things he has ever done in the five years we have been together."

Jean Prestbroten of Orfordville: "My husband drove semi for 37 years for the same company. At his retirement party, he presented me with 37 long stem roses. He told everyone that while he was driving cross country, he knew it took a lot of work for me to be the 'home support.'

"He told everyone how I raised our daughter, was mom to three exchange students, took care of minor home repairs, did the banking, shopping, errands and that he could not have done his job as well without me.

"I was so honored!

"Love you, Sven!"

Sharaya Reed of Delavan: "I was at work, and my boss was leaving for the day. She asked me to look at the shredder to see where the jam was.

"The shredder was so jammed it would not do anything.

"Before I knew it, I had the whole shredder taken apart, teeth and all. Mind you, it was now unjammed. So, as I looked at my desk of pieces, I realized I had no idea how to get this thing back together. So, what do I do? I call my 'Mr. Fix It'…

"He got to my work and gave me the look of death as he stared at all the little jigsaw teeth. After a few hours of mumbling underneath his breath, he had the machine running like a top.

"I was so proud and thankful to him."

Ashley Hanson of Janesville: "My boyfriend tells me at least once a day how beautiful I am and that he knows how lucky he is to have such an amazing woman like me.

"We've been seeing each other for over a year. He stills insists on opening my car door and paying when we go out. I love him very much, and he proves old-fashioned chivalry has not died. Love you baby!

Amy Hill of Whitewater: "My boyfriend, Bill Dunifer, and I recently reconnected via Facebook. He never fails to instill a quiet confidence in me. When I say, 'I can't,' he simply says, 'Oh, I thought you could.'

"He reminds me to just breathe and not to sweat the small stuff … A number of years ago, I was close to death and had a fever of 106.1 for 36 straight hours. It fried a lot of my short- and long-term memory. So, what I forget, Bill remembers."

Mary Voegeli of Milton: "On Jan. 18, my husband of 52 years actually had pre-ordered tickets for a meal and 'The Sizzling Sixties' concert at The Fireside. We were married in 1960, so the songs were so familiar. I could sing, hum or toe dance right along with everyone. What a sweetheart.

Normally, he is not so aggressive towards anything musical.

Thank you, again, Ray, from your loving wife, Mary."

Paula Dabel of Fort Atkinson, former teacher at Milton High School: "Every Monday for a year, my husband sent me a rose.

"One sweet guy."

Dave Wedeward of Janesville: "Letha made my day, and life, by agreeing to marry me. We were engaged on the night of Feb. 14, 1987, at the Buckhorn Supper Club and were married Nov. 28, 1987.

"We just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary."

Bev Deaton of Janesville: "My husband, Phil Deaton, and I met when we were in high school and were married when we were both 19 years old. We were married July 1, 1955, more than 57 years ago.

"Phil has always been my sweetheart and has done so many sweet things for me that it is difficult to choose one outstanding thing. I could say that there were six sweetest things and that was the adoption of our six children.

"However, there is one special, sweet thing that Phil did for me that immediately comes to mind. It happened when we lived in Ripon, and Phil was the city administrator. During the summer months, a variety of concerts were held regularly in the small, downtown park.

"One of the concerts fell on our 39th anniversary. Our son Barry was with us, and the three of us went to the grassy area where we usually sat. Phil told me that he had forgotten something and that he and Barry would be back in a few minutes.

"A short time later, they showed up with our card table and two folding chairs, which they placed right in the middle of where people were gathering for the concert. Phil had me sit down at the table, shook out a white tablecloth with a flourish and set the table with dishes and silverware, a flower and two candles.

"By this time, there was quite a crowd gathering for the concert and watching the pre-concert entertainment. Us!

"Finally, Phil served me our anniversary dinner: a complete Chinese dinner. We were certainly a spectacle! For weeks, guys were telling Phil that he surely did set the standard high for them."

Kizzy Vargas of Janesville: "It all started last year on Feb. 11, when I was going through a lot of crappy things.

"I was in the middle of a divorce, and I was living with my mom! I had signed up for a dating website online called Plenty Of Fish. I was going through some interesting guys, when I came across a very sweet guy looking for something serious … I sent him an instant message and that night we talked on the phone! We set up a date for the following night … I was really shy and felt really nervous.

"We saw a movie in Johnson Creek and then sat at a restaurant for almost five hours that night. We talked about everything from feelings to our kids! We set up another date. It was Valentines Day.

"I was still getting ready for our date. My mom had let him in. He was sitting on the couch, when I walked out of the bathroom half dressed, with my hair still in a towel. I came back out, and I looked down and he bought me a rose! I haven't gotten a rose in years!

Feb. 14 will be our one year together! We are engaged to be married July 18, 2015.