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Along those same lines, David has been hired by the Extension Service of the University of Minnesota to work with their various projects. He also serves on the U of MN Alumni Board and helps with livestock judging at the Carver County Fair. His resume includes "Champion Showmanship Award" in 1956 for one fantastic swine.
They have both enjoyed downhill skiing, with Dave on the ski patrol at Afton Alps, but Marlene's knees have given out, along with her skiing. But She loves piano and art and design, having won related awards as a student.
Traveling is becoming a bigger part of their life as business responsibilities have waned. In 1994 they visited Dave's ancestral home of Luxemburg and found Speltz Strasse in Griveldange on the Mosel River. For their 25th wedding anniversary next year, they are traveling to Quebec. "I'm French Canadian," said Marlene. "The first home built by my relatives in Old Quebec City is still standing. I am also a direct descendant of the French explorer, Jean Nicollet."
Atlanta, Georgia, is one of their more frequent destinations because son Mark, 41, and his wife Julie and their children Kristine, Katie, and Kevin live there.
Children and grandchildren are always welcome visitors to the lovely Speltz home on Lake Bavaria. Most of the other children do not live so far away.
Steven, 40, wife Christine, and child-ren Joshua and Benjamin live in Minnetonka. Gregory, 39, is in Minneapolis. Christopher, 35, lives in North Minneapolis, with his wife Vanessa and child-ren Devin, and Reyna.
Dave's children include daughter Ellen, 40, who also lives in Atlanta with children Trey, Taylor, and Sean, and daughter Sheila, 34, who lives in Plymouth with husband Michael and daughter Natalie and a second child "on the way."
Spending time together on Moonlight Bay remains one of the most favorite activities of Dave and Marlene Speltz, the couple who sailed the waves from across the room and stole each other's heart almost 25 years ago. They keep the newest sailboat anchored to a buoy on Lake Waconia. It is the fifth in a long line of successive and ever more sophisticated crafts.
"I've been fascinated by sailing since my college days," said Dave. "Sailing is quiet and peaceful. In the beginning I was fascinated by how you could travel in different directions while the wind was always blowing in the same direction."
Dave and Marlene even spend over-nights on their sailboat. It's a peaceful and quiet place to steal hearts and sing love's old sweet song on Moonlight Bay.
We were sailing along
On Moonlight Bay.
We could hear the voices ringing,
They seemed to say,
"You have stolen my heart,
Now don't go 'way,"
As we sang love's old sweet song
On Moonlight Bay.
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