This love story began over 50 years ago in 1963 at Luther High school in Chicago. Why? That’s where Sun City residents Bill Kamphausen and Sue Schroeder first met.
“You never forget your first love,” Bill said.
However, the relationship had a few twists and turns.
Sun City residents Bill Kamphausen and Sue Schroeder were high school sweethearts who broke up but returned to each other fifty years later. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Sue said, “I was the one who broke up the relationship back then.”
Eventually, they both married other people and started families. At the 10th year reunion in 1976, Sue was pregnant, and so was Bill’s wife, Judy.
Sue said, “We both had daughters born one month apart. My daughter was named Krista and Bill’s daughter was named Kristen.”
“Both Sue and I attended all the class reunions that were held every 10 years. We stayed in touch because we had the same group of friends, our classmates,” Bill said.
Then, things changed again.
Sue said, “In 1988, I got divorced and I had no plans of ever remarrying again. I had trust issues with men, and I had every intention of staying single the rest of my life.”
But that didn’t stop their friendship.
Bill said, “I kept in touch with Sue. I would show up with carnations at her doorstep just to cheer her up.”
Sue joked, “I thought he was stalking me.”
On the 40th reunion, Bill arrived late. He had to work, but he was nearby. By the time he arrived dinner had been served. Sue was getting ready to leave. Bill said, “I tried to get her to stay and talk to her, but she left.”
Ten years later, Bill was one of the organizers for the 50th Luther High School reunion.
Bill said, “I decided that we should have it over a 3-day weekend. My wife had passed in 2013. She had cancer. Our wedding anniversary fell on that weekend. It would have been 46 years. I was an emotional mess.”
Sue said, “It was a lovely reunion. It was a great weekend. I sat at the table that Bill was supposed to sit at. I was sitting with my friends.”
Besides reunions, Sue and Bill also ran into each other at funeral services they were attending to support their friends in time of a loss of a spouse, child, or parent.
Bill said, “After Sue had hosted a lunch after one of the services, I called Sue and asked her out.”
But Sue was unsure.
Sue said, “I was very hesitant. I still had trust issues with men. I agreed to go out with him, but for an early lunch or breakfast.”
Bill had moved into Sun City in 2014 after his wife died.
“My sister lived here and I thought I would enjoy all that it had to offer. Sue had built her forever home in Antioch. It was a large home that had enough space to accommodate sewing classes.”
Bill kept asking Sue out. He showed Sue around Del Webb and the amenities the community had to offer. On the 4th of July, Sue came over after work and watched the fireworks from the high hill in Neighborhood 3.
Sue said, “It was that night I saw Bill in a different light. He was a man who cared enough to love and stay with his wife and it opened up my heart.”
The next day, Bill and I kissed and hugged. I felt like a schoolgirl. I had a tingling sensation, just like high school. I started crying. He brought me so much happiness. I had been divorced for 32 years and never thought I would be in love again.”
Bill said, “I was the first one to say the words, though, ‘I love you.’ After I said them, there was a pregnant pause. And if you watch The Big Bang Theory, it was just like when Leonard told Penny he loved her. Penny said thank you.”
When did Sue say?
“I had to shut one door before I opened another. I was seeing someone platonically and I had to break up with him. As soon as I did that, I called Bill and left him this message:
If you feel hollow. Let me be the one who fills you up with love. Let me free the butterflies within. Just open your heart and let me in. I love you.”
Bill said, “That was on July 20, 2017. I asked a neighbor to use her calligraphy skills to write that message. I wanted to frame it.”
Bill and Sue found the perfect home in Sun City to hang that message, with a finished basement for Sue to continue her sewing lessons.
On October 28, 2018, Bill and Sue exchanged vows in front of family and classmates at Shepherd of the Prairie with a small reception at Randall Oaks.
