Butler County couple celebrating 75 years
They met in high school. He was a senior and she was a sophomore at Mars High School, and after he graduated, he came home from college every weekend to see her.
That was in the 1940s — and this year, John and Jeanne Utz are celebrating 75 years of marriage. Despite the longevity of their relationship, the couple said they are lucky to still be together after all these years.
“We are the best catch I ever made,” John Utz said. “We have 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. We have traveled to all the states and all the provinces of Canada.”
The Utzs live in Valencia, where they have resided since 1950 — the entirety of their marriage. They had three children, Connie Utz Towers, Howard Utz and J. Robert Utz, who died in 2024.
John Utz had worked in estate planning, and his role as a motivational speaker in that career is what let him and his wife travel the world. Jeanne Utz said traveling as a couple was nice, because the two always got home feeling refreshed.
John Utz said the two remain active, still living independently, and Jeanne still bowls at the old family bowling alley once a week. Enjoying restaurant food has also become a cornerstone of the Utz’s relationship, according to John Utz.
“We're both still driving, still going to church,” John Utz said. “Her favorite words are ‘Eat out.’”
Having family members still close by has helped the couple stay active as well. Jeanne Utz commented that none of their immediate family members — grandchildren included — live more than a four-hour drive away from them.
“We have a grandkid who lives on the same road here,” Jeanne Utz said. “Every one of them is ready to help whenever they’re needed. Family-wise we could not ask for more.”
Some troubles have arisen in the Utz paradise over the years, but it has never been anything earth-shattering. John Utz said recent arguments have come up because of aging — the husband and wife are starting to have a hard time hearing what the other person is saying.
The couple’s relationship is built on a solid foundation, according to Jeanne Utz, so she said she feels prepared to take on any challenges that come up in their 90s, and beyond.
“When you love someone for this many years, it’s pretty solid,” Jeanne Utz said.
