We will highlight and consolidate our history for those of you who may not know ! Eric and Katie Jo met in Fort Hood, Texas through mutual friends, Colleen and Nick Soyk in April 2015. Katie quickly became Katie Jo when Eric discovered her full name and it just stuck. Eric deployed to Korea for 9 months in June 2015 and the two really began to get to know each other long distance via FaceTime and letters. Eric safely returned to Fort Hood, Texas in February 2016 and both traveled to see each other multiple times. Their relationship continued to grow and became much more serious. Katie Jo was introduced to Landon and Reilly in Spring 2016. Reilly was 6 years old and Landon 8 years old at the time. In early 2017, Eric was stationed to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri post Drill Sergeant school to serve on the trail for 2 years. Their time spent together was sparse and their relationship truly tested. Smack dab in the middle of no where, Katie Jo worked at Wal-Mart as a cashier and substitute taught Kindergarten-12th grade. Despite not much to do in Missouri and Eric working quite a lot, the trail time went quickly and when orders for Scofield Barracks on the island of Oahu arrived, the two couldn’t wait to live in paradise. Eric had lived on Oahu as a child and still had many great memories he could hardly wait to share this time around with Katie Jo. Together, with Alegra, they packed up and arrived in Hawaii in February 2019. They spent two weeks living in Honolulu on arrival. Both agree, those were two of the best weeks ever spent while there. Eric and Katie Jo compromised their work commute and decided to live on the West side of Oahu in Ewa Beach. Here, the two would spend the next three years living beach front in a 1,300 home community at the mouth of Pearl Harbor. Landon and Reilly would spend the summers with them and the joy experienced watching them surf the waves and run the beach was beyond measure. Eric wore many hats, per se, while serving on Scofield. To say he was ready for a change after 3 years was evident as was the appreciation other leadership rained upon his exit. Katie Jo scored a rewarding job in Honolulu coordinating organ donation and procurement for Legacy of Life, Hawaii. Traveling frequently, Katie Jo and her small team of 20, work to fulfill the needs of organ and tissue donation for all of the Hawaiian islands. Her 22 mile commute to her office took 1 hr and 20 minutes. Katie Jo still holds this job today and does all her work remotely, 5+ hours ahead of the team. Eric took Katie Jo and the children to the beach late one summer night in June 2019 and while there, Eric got on his knee and lovingly asked for Katie Jo’s hand in marriage. With the children and Alegra looking on with approval, she happily agreed, yes ! While in Hawaii, Covid did prevent many activities, but in their case, love prevailed and the two were wed August 10, 2019 on their community’s beach. Their notorious officiant was none other than Katie Jo’s mother, Christy. What seemed like a blip in time, the 3 years had flown by and Eric was stationed to Fort Riley, Kansas in March 2022. A stark contrast from the turquoise water and ocean breeze, the flat lands of prairie seem to stretch for ever and ever and the strong, whipping wind quite constant. Deployment again reread its head and Eric departed for Poland in support of the Ukraine Conflict in December 2022 as a 1st Sergeant. Katie Jo drove the 18.5 hours to Maryland with Alegra and there she stayed with her Mom for the remainder of the deployment. Eric returned safely back with all 113 of his troops to Fort Riley, Kansas in July 2023. Katie Jo and Alegra were awaiting him with open arms. This celebration to be shared is a long time in the making. Eric and Katie Jo would love nothing more than your presence at their vow renewal and jubilee.