Making up for game

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 1, 2004 by Capital-Journal

Two of the couples below are pictured on these pages.

When Brooke Rinehart was crowned homecoming queen for Seaman High School in 1999, John Hoytal was on the football field --- in the opposing team's uniform.

"Hayden killed Seaman, and I was so bummed!" writes Brooke. "I only knew Johnny as the guy on Hayden's football team that led the team in ruining my special night!"

Two years later, they met again, this time at Wood Valley Racquet Club, where Brooke was assistant pool manager and John was a sports camp counselor.

"We talked and got to know each other and made a connection with our pasts," Brooke said. "It took him three times to get me to go out with him, and when I did, he took me to meet his whole family in a delivery room at the hospital. His sister-in-law was having a baby."

Another two years later, John proposed to Brooke on Valentine's Day. "It was beautiful," she said. "My dad got remarried earlier in the day, and after the reception dinner, (John) took me back to my house. I found my room sprinkled in yellow rose petals, candles lit, pictures of us everywhere, and my favorite love song playing." Brooke turned around to find John on one knee holding a diamond ring. "It was perfect!" she said.

They were married June 19.

There was one little mishap after their wedding. A bridesmaid was exiting the limo, when the bodice of her strapless dress fell down. "People started yelling and honking," Brooke said, "but I thought they were honking at me because I was the bride."

Robert Lynch proposed to Kimberly Brown after they completed the Carondelet Heart Institute Hospital Hill Run in Kansas City.

Rob and Kim completed the run together.

"Family and friends held signs throughout the race leading up to the ultimate proposal," Kimberly writes. "He got down on one knee in the fountains (at Crown Center) with thousands of onlookers and proposed."

Their wedding date is June 18, 2005.

They met through Rob's sister, Randi, who was Kim's best friend in high school and her roommate during college.

Onalee and Robert Exon, of Topeka, are the parents of three children and their spouses who this year are celebrating 25th wedding anniversaries. Onalee recalls the complications, the details and the expense of having three weddings that year.

"I don't know how we did it," she said. She recalls that the second wedding was three weeks after the first. A tuxedo store gave them a discount on tuxedos for having two weddings within a month, she said.

Their offspring who married that year are as follows:

Rolland and Debby Exon, of Shawnee, were married May 26, 1979. Debby is the daughter of Forrest Fernkopf, Topeka, and the late Helen Fernkopf.

Randall and Brenda Exon, of Philadelphia, married June 23, 1979. Brenda is the daughter of Jack and Lou Embrey, of Topeka.

Janell and Gregory Vogue, of Topeka, married Oct. 6, 1979. Greg's parents are Ralph and Joan Vogue, of Topeka.

The Exons have another son and daughter-in-law, Drs. Robert and Karen Exon, of Topeka, who will celebrate their 30th anniversary next week. They were married Aug. 10, 1974. Karen is the daughter of Debby Hunt, of Topeka, and the late Harold "Bud" Hunt.

The Exons and their children plan to celebrate at a family dinner in Sioux Falls, S.D., that will be hosted by South Dakota relatives.

Nancy Tompkins can be reached at (785) 295-1297 or at nancy.tompkins@cjonline.com.