PEOPLE PROFILE: Neumanns of Ransomville mark 70th anniversary

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June 26, 2009

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Bill</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Jun 26, 2009, 07:17 PM EDT

RANSOMVILLE — Larry and Lillian Neumann, familiar faces in town, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary June 30.

Larry, 95, retired as a mailman when he was 62. Lillian, 92, taught school at Stevenson Elementary and moved on to Christian school after retiring from public school.

The Neumanns were married in Lillian’s mother’s home in Buffalo on June 30, 1939. “Dad was shy — didn’t want a church wedding,” said Marcia (Neumann) Hockenberry, the third of six Neumann children.

Neil lives in Ransomville and David lives in Wrights Corners; the older boys are retired. Marcia Hockenberry lives in West Virginia and Richard lives in Niagara Falls and is the assistant pastor of Niagara Frontier Bible Church on Bronson Drive in Lewiston. Mark Neumann is a registered nurse and lives in Lockport. Kelly (Neumann) Ritchey works at a post office in Arizona.

Larry and Lillian have 19 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren.

“She’s a very outgoing, prayer warrior,” Marcia said of Lillian. “She has long prayer list. She taught Sunday school until she was 82. She has a lot of life and a good sense of humor.”

The couple lives on Ransomville Road and often goes to lunch or breakfast at the nearby restaurant. Larry still rides downtown on his lawn mower, according to Richard.

“Dad has always been a hard-working man,” Richard said. “Quality-wise, he’s a very giving person, a man of good character. Every time we stop for gas, he gets out of the car and talks to people.”

While dad is more of a home person, Lillian is perhaps more outgoing. If mom had a chance, she’d be all over the world, according to Richard.

“Lillian is full of life, energy, like the Energizer Bunny,” said Kippra Neumann, a granddaughter. “I just got a birthday card from her. She remembers birthdays and celebrates with us.”

Mention Larry or Lillian Neumann in Ransomville, and folks will know the name, according to Kippra. They love the Lord, served many years in the church.

“They have a very deep faith in God, and that has made a difference,” Marcia said. “It’s how you look at life and things that happen.”

Marcia recalled that if her father knew that a family was expecting a package on Christmas Eve, he, as their mail man, would make a special return to the post office to get the present so the family would not be disappointed.

“He would give you the shirt off his back,” she said.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

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