Augie Sweethearts: Elizabeth Caswell '90 and Paul Schipper '92

Submitted by Elizabeth Caswell of Portland, Ore.

Paul and I met while singing in the Augustana Choir. I didn't know him that well until on tour when we were snowed in in Minneapolis at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. The bus drivers declared it was too treacherous for the drive to Sheboygan that day, so the choir was ensconced in the youth rooms in the basement of the church for a very long day. We were under strict orders to remain in the basement, as there was a funeral going on upstairs. We got by with playing pool and watching network television on the one TV set (no smart phones or Netflix back then, kids.) 

Since we were there unexpectedly, there was no plan to feed us. Mrs. Morrison ventured out in the snow to a grocery store and procured what must have been 20 loaves of bread and jars of peanut butter. As hungry young adults, it got us by, but we were all dreaming of pizza or more food. 

Then John Allemeier and Paul came into the room, patting their bellies, and saying how full they were. We looked at them in confusion. Turns out, they had stumbled upon the fellowship hall, stood in line, and helped themselves to the funeral luncheon! Funeral crashers. They were both pastor's kids and knew how to help yourself to church potlucks. I was intrigued with someone that resourceful.

I married Paul, and my sister married John. Friends from The Augustana Choir sang at our wedding in Ascension Chapel. I'm sorry there weren't peanut butter sandwiches at the reception, but we kept an eye out for wedding crashers.