Bolingbrook Love Stories: Three Couples Tell Their Stories

Happy Valentine's Day! 

To celebrate, read the love stories of three Bolingbrook couples. These stories were first posted two years ago and were written by Toni Greathouse. 

So without further adieu... 

Chuck and Peggy Danhof

Married since 1966, the Danhofs are the cliché love at first sight couple.

"I was 13, and Chuck was 14," Peg said. "We lived in Muskegon, Mich., and we both played in the 8th grade band. There was just something about him. He looked so cute playing that tuba that I couldn’t resist."

Chuck was also smitten. Unbeknown to Peg, her antics to disrupt class simply to gain his attention had been working but not with her teacher. Before long the girl who frequently disrupted class found herself in a precarious position.

After coming down with an appendicitis attack in class, her band teacher ignored Peg’s pleas. Realizing she was in severe distress, Chuck stood up for her and helped her to the nurse’s office where she was immediately rushed to the hospital.

The unfortunate incident solidified the pair's friendship, which turned romantic when both were allowed to date at 16. Pledging their undying love at the tender age of 18, Chuck and Peg chose to attend the same college and married soon after graduation.

"Our marriage has lasted a long time because we have a lot in common," Peg said. "We were friends first, came from the same background and understood life is a give-or-take proposition. It hasn’t always been easy because we haven’t always gotten along, but we’ve always been committed to working out our problems together."

Art and Lidia Prazak

The Prazaks consider themselves truly blessed. 

Circa 1969, they found their love at the Vatican’s Basilica Square and long strolls by Castel Sant'Angelo after being set up by a mutual friend.

Art, an Air Force veteran, and Lidia, a self-described Army brat, became convinced with each date that no two other people could have been more aligned.

"We could talk about everything and anything." Lidia said. "Our morals and values were the same and when we were together, our focus and concentration was only on each other. After one week, we wondered if our mutual affection was real or if were we under the spell of Rome."

By the end of the second week, Lidia and Art were engaged; two months later they were married. They quickly relocated to Germany in a small flat that was within eyeshot of Frankenstein’s castle.

Today their vows have proved to stand the test of time, spanning both decades and continents.

Bolingbrook residents since 1972, Lidia and Art have literally done everything together. In the early 1970s, they commuted to Northbrook-based GTE where they both worked before transitioning to dual careers in real estate.

In 1989 the couple were reunited in business at the local Coldwell Banker office where they currently work as a team.  

"At first I fought so much togetherness," she said. "Now it is very natural for us. Where I am weak, he is strong and vice versa. "We are still in love because we respect and care for each other. We have created a family together, but all our attention is still focused on each other.

"Our life together is like a big adventure. Each day we’re discovering and exploring."

Larry and Jackie Phipps 

Married in 1970, Larry is convinced his love lasts because he says yes to everything Jackie suggests.

"I’m from North Carolina and I came to Chicago to go to school," Jackie said. "I was always broke and my friend, who was dating Larry’s cousin, told me I could get a free meal if I’d go along on a double date. Larry was the only one with a job, so he got stuck with the bill."

Without hesitation, Larry footed the bill as the foursome planned additional outings.

"After a while we became best friends and ditched the others," Jackie joked. "What wasn’t there to love? He was easy going, generous and had a great sense of humor."

Larry said that friendship definitely helped their romance blossom.

"Yeah, because we were friends first, it was easier for us to be together." he said. "That helped us through the hardest parts, because once you make it through those, the rest is easy.

"I’ve learned over the years not to rush things. Some of the things that seemed so important at the time really weren’t. People nowadays seem in a hurry to accomplish things. We know that the best things in life came to us because we waiting and work for them.

"And contrary to what Larry says, we’ve always made decisions together." Jackie said. 

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