February 13, 2001 Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon, PA By HOWARD KOLUS Staff Writer They're still affectionate and tender towards each other after all these years. Like much younger couples -- and after 66 years of marriage -- Thomas and Lillian Allwein enjoy touching and kissing in the privacy of their room at ManorCare Health Services on Tuck Road. Thomas Allwein, a gentle man who is now 100 years old, says he'll be sure to give his wife, Lillian, a special kiss tomorrow for Valentine's Day. "We kiss quite often," the long-retired leather cutter for various shoe manufacturers says with a smile. "Every day, more and more, we love each other." "We do," his wife agrees. The Allweins arrived at the health care facility separately; he in 1996, she a year later. They share a room and are in good health, though Lillian, 89, suffers from Alzheimer's disease. During a visit with a stranger, she converses little and has difficulty remembering details of the couple's life. "It's a nice thing that we're both together," Thomas says. "We get along with everybody. We have no enemies. We have friends. That's a good life." At first, Lillian was placed in Manorcare's Alzheimer's' wing, but later she was reunited with her husband. "He sort of looks out for her and she looks out for him the best she can," says Charles Allwein, Thomas' nephew, who has power of attorney for the couple. "It works out very well." Lisa Kortright, charge nurse of the Heritage Unit where the Allweins live, says the pair is always together. "They're very loving, very doting," she explains. "They're constantly lying in bed together with Tom having his arm around his wife. They definitely care for each other. Even with her Alzheimer's, she knows her husband and misses him when he's not nearby and worries about him." Charles Allwein says he and his wife visit often, usually stopping by at least once a week. His wife, Charlotte, is a volunteer who plays the piano at the facility. "One of the crazy things is when you get up to their ages, none of your friends are around any more. ... Tom doesn't know any old acquaintances," the nephew says. The easy familiarity two people achieve after sharing their lives for more than half a century is evident in the Allwein's relationship. Lillian kids that her husband is good to her "in some things," while he recalls that "she always was a good cook." "We miss her cooking," he continues, adding, "Oh, my goodness, I'm talking too much!" Although Thomas no longer needs to concern himself with earning a living, he still recalls with pride his working years as a shoe cutter, a trade he practiced all his life. "A cutter cuts the whole shoe and then they (other workers) put it together," he explains. He met his wife "by chance at her mother's house" when he was visiting. She also worked in a shoe factory. Thomas Allwein also enjoys recalling his old home and is quick to recite the house number of the Quentin Road address in Lebanon he left for a hospital stay before moving to ManorCare. "He is very sharp. His mind is amazing for his age," Allwein's nephew says. "He was always very mechanical. ... He had a shop in his home and took pride in making just about anything. I'm mechanical too and he sort of lives vicariously through my projects. As soon as I come in there, the first thing he wants to know is what did you do today?' " The Allweins were born and raised in Lebanon. Thomas, one of 12 children, attended the former St. Mary's School -- "The only school I ever did go to." The couple has no children, although Thomas has a daughter from a previous marriage. Two of his sisters also survive as does a sister of Lillian's. Thomas is obviously proud of being "active all my life." "I never was out of work, always had a job," retiring at 65, he says. He was employed by various local shoe companies and for a shoe manufacturing firm in New Jersey. "I did odd jobs after retirement," he adds, again emphasizing, "all my life I've been employed." After their retirement, the couple worked at a Lebanon businessman's club, bartending and serving meals. The Allweins also saw much of the United States after retirement, experiences that still linger in Thomas Allwein's mind. "We traveled quite a lot and enjoyed all the places we went," he said. Today, their journeys -- with the exception of occasional summer group outings -- are confined to the hallways of ManorCare, with Lillian pushing Thomas' wheelchair. "He walks with assistance and short distances," Kortright says. "She pushes him and he goes, Come on mama, let's go.' He dresses himself and she helps. They help each other, actually." Charles Allwein says his uncle began using the wheelchair following hip surgery. He says the centenarian's hips have been replaced three times. Asked the secret of their lengthy marriage, Thomas Allwein quickly responds: "You mind your own business and you stay happy. ... She minds her business and I mind mine. We've gotten along very good all our lives, never had any problems." Accentuating their compatibility, the Allweins renewed their marriage vows last Valentine's Day in a ceremony at ManorCare. Newspaper photos of them kissing after the event are on the walls of their room. "I look at (them) and know this is our room," Thomas says. "We like it here because we have nothing to do. We go to meals ... we have a good bed and somebody else is taking care of us. "At 100 years old, what else do you expect?"

Thomas Lucia Allwein, son of Francis Aloysius Allwein & Amanda Elizabeth Beamesderfer Lillian Frederick his second wife His first wife was Bessie Miller. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian and Nancy" <nnebiker@ispchannel.com> To: <ALWINE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 3:12 PM Subject: [ALWINE] News Article > February 13, 2001 Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon, PA > > By HOWARD KOLUS > Staff Writer > > They're still affectionate and tender towards each other after all these > years. Like much younger couples -- and after 66 years of marriage -- Thomas > and Lillian Allwein enjoy touching and kissing in the privacy of their room > at ManorCare Health Services on Tuck Road. > > Thomas Allwein, a gentle man who is now 100 years old, says he'll be sure to > give his wife, Lillian, a special kiss tomorrow for Valentine's Day. "We > kiss quite often," the long-retired leather cutter for various shoe > manufacturers says with a smile. > > "Every day, more and more, we love each other." > > "We do," his wife agrees. > > The Allweins arrived at the health care facility separately; he in 1996, she > a year later. They share a room and are in good health, though Lillian, 89, > suffers from Alzheimer's disease. During a visit with a stranger, she > converses little and has difficulty remembering details of the couple's > life. > > "It's a nice thing that we're both together," Thomas says. "We get along > with everybody. We have no enemies. We have friends. That's a good life." > > At first, Lillian was placed in Manorcare's Alzheimer's' wing, but later she > was reunited with her husband. > > "He sort of looks out for her and she looks out for him the best she can," > says Charles Allwein, Thomas' nephew, who has power of attorney for the > couple. "It works out very well." > > Lisa Kortright, charge nurse of the Heritage Unit where the Allweins live, > says the pair is always together. "They're very loving, very doting," she > explains. "They're constantly lying in bed together with Tom having his arm > around his wife. They definitely care for each other. Even with her > Alzheimer's, she knows her husband and misses him when he's not nearby and > worries about him." > > Charles Allwein says he and his wife visit often, usually stopping by at > least once a week. His wife, Charlotte, is a volunteer who plays the piano > at the facility. "One of the crazy things is when you get up to their ages, > none of your friends are around any more. ... Tom doesn't know any old > acquaintances," the nephew says. > > The easy familiarity two people achieve after sharing their lives for more > than half a century is evident in the Allwein's relationship. Lillian kids > that her husband is good to her "in some things," while he recalls that "she > always was a good cook." > > "We miss her cooking," he continues, adding, "Oh, my goodness, I'm talking > too much!" > > Although Thomas no longer needs to concern himself with earning a living, he > still recalls with pride his working years as a shoe cutter, a trade he > practiced all his life. > > "A cutter cuts the whole shoe and then they (other workers) put it > together," he explains. He met his wife "by chance at her mother's house" > when he was visiting. She also worked in a shoe factory. > > Thomas Allwein also enjoys recalling his old home and is quick to recite the > house number of the Quentin Road address in Lebanon he left for a hospital > stay before moving to ManorCare. > > "He is very sharp. His mind is amazing for his age," Allwein's nephew says. > "He was always very mechanical. ... He had a shop in his home and took pride > in making just about anything. I'm mechanical too and he sort of lives > vicariously through my projects. As soon as I come in there, the first thing > he wants to know is what did you do today?' " > > The Allweins were born and raised in Lebanon. Thomas, one of 12 children, > attended the former St. Mary's School -- "The only school I ever did go to." > The couple has no children, although Thomas has a daughter from a previous > marriage. Two of his sisters also survive as does a sister of Lillian's. > > Thomas is obviously proud of being "active all my life." "I never was out of > work, always had a job," retiring at 65, he says. He was employed by various > local shoe companies and for a shoe manufacturing firm in New Jersey. > > "I did odd jobs after retirement," he adds, again emphasizing, "all my life > I've been employed." After their retirement, the couple worked at a Lebanon > businessman's club, bartending and serving meals. > > The Allweins also saw much of the United States after retirement, > experiences that still linger in Thomas Allwein's mind. > > "We traveled quite a lot and enjoyed all the places we went," he said. > Today, their journeys -- with the exception of occasional summer group > outings -- are confined to the hallways of ManorCare, with Lillian pushing > Thomas' wheelchair. > > "He walks with assistance and short distances," Kortright says. "She pushes > him and he goes, Come on mama, let's go.' He dresses himself and she helps. > They help each other, actually." > > Charles Allwein says his uncle began using the wheelchair following hip > surgery. He says the centenarian's hips have been replaced three times. > > Asked the secret of their lengthy marriage, Thomas Allwein quickly responds: > "You mind your own business and you stay happy. ... She minds her business > and I mind mine. We've gotten along very good all our lives, never had any > problems." > > Accentuating their compatibility, the Allweins renewed their marriage vows > last Valentine's Day in a ceremony at ManorCare. Newspaper photos of them > kissing after the event are on the walls of their room. > > "I look at (them) and know this is our room," Thomas says. "We like it here > because we have nothing to do. We go to meals ... we have a good bed and > somebody else is taking care of us. > > "At 100 years old, what else do you expect?" > > > > > ==== ALWINE Mailing List ==== > >