Frankenmuth

What is something unique What is something unique about your family's story? about your family's story? Terri and Pat met in high school but never dated back then. Nearly forty years later Pat was divorced and living in Mississippi when Terri and Pat reconnected on Facebook. At the time Terri was staying with her sister in Atlanta after her marriage had ended. By chance Pat had a flight connection through Atlanta in early February of 2016, and Terri suggested he stay a couple days so they could see each other. A woman Pat worked with encouraged him to do it, saying there is something special about reconnecting with people you grew up with because you share the same values and experiences. That advice turned out to be absolutely right. They had a wonderful couple of days reconnecting, and their relationship grew from there. Later that year Terri moved to Mississippi and they were married in a quiet ceremony in their home on December 31, 2017. In July of 2019 they moved back to Frankenmuth together. Since then, more of the family has followed. Pat's daughter Emily and her husband Kirk had been living outside Nashville where their daughter Ellie was born. Eventually they decided they wanted to return to Michigan. Even though Frankenmuth had never been their hometown, Emily had spent a lot of time visiting her grandparents here. With Terri and Pat now living here and everything the community offers, they decided it would be a great place to raise their children and moved here in March of 2022. Pat's son Jack and his wife Audra were still living in northern Mississippi where their three children were born. Mississippi was never home for them either, so they eventually decided to move to Frankenmuth as well. This past October they packed up and relocated here. As a side note, Jack proposed to Audra on the Holz-Brücke bridge with a friend secretly recording the moment. What do you love about What do you love about living here? living here? "The first thing that comes to mind is the incredible sense of community. While neither Terri nor I come from long multi-generation Frankenmuth families, we have always felt welcome here. We have great neighbors and there is a real sense that people look out for one another and lend a hand when needed. Many small towns have that feeling, but Frankenmuth also has an energy and pride that makes it a special place to live. Having my children and grandchildren nearby again has made living here even more meaningful." Name a few of your favorite Name a few of your favorite things to do in the area things to do in the area "There are quite a few things we enjoy doing. We like spending a day on the beach near Caseville, and being close to "up north" means we can easily spend time with friends on Lake Charlevoix. We also enjoy visiting Traverse City for a few days during the Cherry Festival. Locally we enjoy many of the festivals. One of our favorites is the Dog Bowl since we are dog lovers and enjoy seeing everyone there with their dogs. Our favorite is the Auto Fest. My son owns a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner and Terri and I have a 1956 Ford F-100 truck, so we are hoping to participate in Auto Fest this year rather than just attend." Favorite childhood memory? Favorite childhood memory? "The Bavarian Festival parade stands out as one of our favorite childhood memories. Back then it was quite a spectacle with many high school marching bands and performance groups. The Shriners riding their Harleys and driving their tiny cars were always a highlight. There was always a lively group of locals gathered on the lawn across from Tiffany's that kept things entertaining. It was something everyone looked forward to every year." Favorite hangout spot locally? Favorite hangout spot locally? "There are many great places around town, but when we want to relax, have a drink and be around people we enjoy the Tap Room at Zehnder's. We have met many interesting people just sitting at the bar and talking for an hour or two. We also enjoy walking our Havanese dogs through Heritage Park along the Riverwalk. It's one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots in town." 13

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