H. DeVerl and Anita R. Weller, of 1022 Bailey Ave., Niles will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday, July 29, 2010. They were married July 29, 1950 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Niles with the Rev. Father Zavatsky officiating.

H. DeVerl Weller was born and raised in Watervliet, Mich. During World War II, he left school in May 1944 to join the U. S. Army and spent the next two years in Germany as an infantryman in Company B, 343rd Infantry Regiment, 86th Division. He returned home in May 1946, and, soon after, met his future wife, and began courting her.

Anita (Neadie) Ruth DePoy was born and raised in Niles and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in South Bend, Ind. in 1947. She spent the next several years working at various jobs in the Niles area, but her true passion was to entertain people, so, she and a sister moved out west to begin working in the entertainment industry. Neadie had some small acting jobs while in Colorado, but DeVerl was back home waiting for her, and when he went out there to bring her home, acting became a past dream and she returned with him to Niles to settle down and raise a family.

During the early years of their marriage, Neadie was a stay-at-home wife and mother, raising the couple’s three children while DeVerl spent his entire adult career working as a licensed pipefitter and providing for his family.  They moved into their current family home in 1955, where they frequently entertain family and friends.

DeVerl retired from Intergy Inc. as a master pipefitter in 1990, and Neadie retired from her teller position at Fifth Third Bank in 1981. The couple has since travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and spent many winters months as Florida “snowbirds.”

For many years, Neadie was a member of “The Sweet Adelines” and the group won rave reviews for their performances at competitions throughout the state of Michigan. As active members of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Niles, Neadie and DeVerl have kept busy by volunteering to work on special committees within the Parish. DeVerl has spent countless hours crafting handmade wood products for sale at the church’s annual Holiday Bazaar. And, Neadie has served in a variety of officer positions on many of the church’s committees. Their love for and their dedication to the community is further evidenced by the hours they spend each month taking hot meals to those less fortunate through the Meals On Wheels organization.

The couple celebrated their “diamond jubilee” anniversary at a family dinner at Tippecanoe Place in South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Hosting the event was their children, Blair Matthew, Brenda Marlene (VanDyck) and Blaine Martin. Joining in the festivities will be their grandchildren, Monica Marlain VanDyck (Bordner) and her husband Drew; Erik John VanDyck and his wife, Lindsey; and daughter-in-law Sue, wife of Blair. A third grandchild, Matthew James of Broken Arrow, Okla., will be unable to attend.

Coffee and cake was served in the evening at the couple’s home.