Chuck and Darlene Lacugna, Gardnerville residents since 1995, celebrated their 60th anniversary with a cake reception at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ocean, Calif., with family and friends.
The Lacugnas were married Dec. 24, 1955, in Chicago, Ill., during the Christmas break from their respective colleges — Illinois Institute of Technology and National College of Education.
Chuck was working for Commonwealth Edison when Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif., hired him as a test engineer.
The family relocated to California in 1962.
When funding for the Apollo Moon Project was expiring in 1970, Chuck worked at Bechtel Power for 17 years. Later he returned to Rocketdyne to work on the Antimissile Interceptor Program until he retired in 1995.
Darlene taught primary grades in Cicero, Ill., and later was a substitute teacher for 20 years for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She was primarily a stay-at-home mom who volunteered at the grade school and at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Chuck and Darlene have two children — Susan Mundahl-Rodriguez who lives in Pismo Beach, Calif., and Charles Lacugna who lives in Northridge, Calif. They have three children, three step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren.
The Lacugnas are active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Family in Carson City. Darlene is the bell choir director.
Chuck, an Elk, loves his computer and does jigsaw and crossword puzzles. Darlene plays bridge and crossword puzzles and she crochets and embroiders.
The couple eats out frequently at the senior center, church, the Elks Club and anywhere they have coupons.