Donald and Beverly Komarek will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Aug. 22. The couple will celebrate with their family at a later date this year.
Beverly Phillips and 2nd Lt. Donald Komarek were united in marriage on Aug. 22, 1954, at the First Congregational Church, Stone and Broadway in Great Bend. They left immediately for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he was stationed. That was the beginning of a 20 year career in the United States Air Force, where home was in several states, Japan, Turkey, and Vietnam. Don was in charge of several intelligence and photo intelligence facilities during the Cold War.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Komarek returned to Great Bend in 1975. Don managed farming interests and Phillips Sporting Goods for several years and is now retired. Bev serves as the executive director for Barton County Historical Society. The couple has three children, Dr. Dana (Harvard) Townsend, of Wheaton, Ill., Stefan (Cathie Besley) Komarek, of Grandview, Mo., and Tracy (Stephen) Aris, of Lisle, Ill. They are blessed with five grandchildren, Sarah Townsend (Eric Ramseier), Michael Townsend (Christina), Daniel Townsend, OD (Claire), Kyle Komarek, and Corinne Horsch (Eric); and one great grandson, Jonah Townsend. They are awaiting another great-grandson and will also welcome Kyle’s new bride, Jackie Shank.  Both events are expected in September.