David A. and Rose C. Marcou are my parents. They were married on Feb. 14, 1950, Valentine's Day, and in 2010, they celebrated their 60th Valentine Anniversary at Old Country Buffet in La Crosse, WI.
I am the oldest of Dave and Rose's seven children, and it's been a great ride in this family, so far; we look forward to many more good years together.
Dad worked as a meat cutter for 60 years, before retiring in 2009. Along the way, he's had successful open-heart surgery and cancer surgery, as well as chronic insulin diabetes and gout. He's a great storyteller, and we love him dearly. We also love Mom dearly. She worked 30 years as a nursing home clerk, and raised us kids well.
On their special day in February 2010, the local ABC-TV affiliate covered the party, with Gabe Erickson doing the interview. The cake showed my parents' favorite picture of betrothal from 1950. They honeymooned in Milwaukee and Chicago. I was born 9 months and 11 days after their wedding.
Today, I'm a freelance writer/photographer and author/editor whose works are in many leading archives and libraries, including the British National Portrait Gallery and various archives of the Smithsonian Institution. Also, I've directed/edited the 'Spirit of America' anthology series since 2000. My brother Dennis is our city's judge. Brother Dan was Wisconsin SWAT Officer of the Year in 2005 and is now a nationally known crime novelist. Brother Tom is chief office accountant for the US Comptroller of the Currency in Washington, DC. Sister Diane is a civilian police employee. Sister Lynn is a Target team leader. And Sister Mary "Kate" is an accountant. We all have children, including me. PFC Matthew A. Marcou, my only child, serves as a US Army Ranger, and Matt is also a very good writer, photographer, and computer programmer/technician.
These days, family is becoming important again to many people, even in families that have struggled. We've not always had it easy, especially my sister Diane Skifton, who lost her son Tony to drowning in 1997. Tony was one of the ten young men who drowned mysteriously at La Crosse over a ten-year period. Diane has another son, and a daughter, and is a grandmother of two.
We hope readers/viewers appreciate our family, and these few photos; they seem emblematic of what family gatherings can stand for. Congratulations again, Mom and Dad!