John and Renee Walkenhorst celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Sept. 29, with a dinner party in Santa Rosa. In attendance were their children and their children's spouses, Marsha and Hans Warner, Danny and Lyn Walkenhorst, Stewart and Shannon Walkenhorst and Margaret and Paul Willes. Also attending were some of their 24 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Raised in Salt Lake, they met at the grocery where Renee worked. They were married in the Latter-day Saint Temple in Salt Lake on Sept. 24, 1946. John was in the Air Force during World War II when they married. After the war they moved to Alaska, then Travis Air Force base and later to Mountain Home, Idaho, where he was stationed. After John retired from the Air Force, they moved to California where John started a retail store.

John and Renee have lived in Napa for the past 41 years. John owned "Walkenhorst's," a retail store and Renee worked along side him for many years. Since retiring, their sons have taken over the business and it has evolved into a mail order business.

They have been active in their church, completing three missions and have been involved in youth groups, genealogy work and held many leadership positions.

They enjoy traveling, usually long road trips across the country. Renee is very talented with needlepoint and John enjoys gardening, but their favorite pastime is visiting with family.