In early 2014, Conan was living in Orange County, California. He planned to move to his hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin, later that year. Shanna had already moved home to Wausau a couple of years earlier in 2012.

Both Conan and Shanna were single. Mutual friends introduced them as a potential match via Facebook Messenger. They exchanged a few messages and agreed to reconnect once Conan was settled in Wausau.

Several months later, Conan moved back to Wausau and learned that Shanna was dating someone else. Conan and Shanna shared mutual friends and saw each other occasionally, but life had other plans for them before they would reconnect.

Over Memorial Day weekend in 2022, Conan and Shanna reconnected. Shanna was preparing to officiate the wedding of her brother, Josh, and sister-in-law, Maddie, and doing some “research” by watching the reality TV show, Married at First Sight, when she decided on a whim to create a Match dating profile. She matched with Conan, thinking that perhaps he forgot to deactivate his dating profile years ago. Conan thought someone stole Shanna’s pictures and made a fake dating profile. He sent a message to Shanna on Facebook Messenger, offering that he would love to share a cocktail if the dating profile was real. Shanna confirmed that the dating profile was real, and they planned their first date.

Conan suggested that they should meet at Mosinee Brewing Company on the following Friday night because he didn’t think they would see anyone they know there. Despite a sentiment that Conan didn’t want to be seen with her, Shanna agreed. Conan would later share with Shanna that he wasn’t worried about anyone seeing them together; he just didn’t want anyone to interrupt their date.

Always on Lombardi time, Shanna arrived early at Mosinee Brewing Company. She was amused to see several friends enjoying cold beverages. All of them were respectful and didn’t interrupt the date.

Conan and Shanna enjoyed a couple of beers and great conversation at Mosinee Brewing Company. When Conan was closing out the tab, he pulled out his Connexus Credit Union debit card to pay. Shanna serves on the Board of Directors for Connexus Credit Union, and she was thrilled that Conan is a member.

Conan and Shanna hadn’t planned to get dinner together that evening, but they were enjoying the date and decided to continue by dining together at Pinewood Supper Club. The kitchen was nearly closed by the time they arrived, but the bartender happily offered French onion soup, salad, and Old Fashioneds.

After dinner, Conan dropped off Shanna at her car, parked near the Mosinee Brewing Company. Before getting out of Conan’s truck, Conan and Shanna shared the most magical first kiss.

In February 2023, Conan accompanied Shanna to a continuing education conference in Maui, Hawaii. The time zone in Maui is five hours behind Wausau, so Conan and Shanna awoke early in the morning before the sunrise on their first day in Hawaii. Shanna had time to relax before the conference began, and Conan asked Shanna what she would like to do that day. Shanna’s friend, Allison, recommended “life-changing” coconut macadamia nut pancakes at a restaurant located a short walk from the Grand Wailea, where Conan and Shanna were staying. Shanna suggested they could take a sunrise walk along the beach, on their way to enjoy the pancakes. Conan agreed.

Early in the morning, Conan and Shanna walked along the beautiful, cobblestone walkway in Maui, watching the sun rise over the ocean and islands in the distance. They talked about how wonderful it was they could be in Hawaii together, how much they enjoyed spending time together, and expressed their mutual wish to build a life together. Conversations like this don’t happen all the time, but they also are not unusual. Shanna didn’t think anything was unique about this conversation.

The grass in this area is beautifully maintained and resembles the grass you may see on the fairways of a golf course. If you haven’t been to Hawaii before, you might even wonder whether you are allowed to walk on it. Conan asked Shanna if they were allowed to walk on the grass. Giggling, Shanna assured Conan that they could walk on the grass; people sunbathe on the same grass later in the day. Conan invited Shanna to join him.

Conan kissed Shanna while simultaneously attempting to get the engagement ring out of his back pocket. Shanna had no idea why Conan was messing with his back pocket until he began dropping to one knee. Shanna exclaimed, “Oh!” She was surprised!

Conan asked Shanna to marry him, and Shanna exclaimed, “Absolutely!”

They shared affections, then they enjoyed the life-changing pancakes and champagne for breakfast before spending the rest of the day at Wailea Beach.