Christiane E.E. (Staak) Heilman and Robert E. Heilman of Orefield celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 30.

The couple met two weeks before Christmas 1971 on a blind date and married 47 days later, Jan. 30, 1972, in Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield.

Pastor Ralph Eberle officiated at the ceremony.

The next day, Robert reported to active duty in New London, Conn., to serve aboard the USS Thomas Jefferson submarine for three months.

Christiane is the daughter of the late The Rev. Dr. Hagan A.K Staack and Gertrude Staack, who had resided in Allentown.

Her father was a professor and head of the religion department (1955-1970s), Muhlenberg College.

Christiane graduated from Kutztown College, now Kutztown University, where she was an education major.

Robert is the son of the late Robert and Charlotte Heilman, who had resided in Fogelsville.

His father was a farmer and his mother volunteered with Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

The couple has three children: Leah, and husband Mark Easterday, of Harrisburg; Rebecca, and husband, Joe Mancine, of Freehold, N.J., and Rachel, and husband Josh Grace, of Manteca, Calif.

They have six grandchildren: Aiden, Lucas, Anna, Joey, Teddy and Jameson.