Couple in Their 80’s Find Their Second Shot at Love at the Ontario Health and Fitness Center

84-year-old Gisela Shoemaker and 88-year-old Hans Reich come to the OhioHealth Ontario Health and Fitness Center every day to hit the track. 

Some may admire the couple's visible signs of affection in their golden years, but what many don't know is Reich and Shoemaker are still in their honeymoon phase. 

They've only been married one month!

“She was single, and I’ve been single for quite a few years, so time to start a new life," said Reich.

Shoemaker and Reich met in 2021. A fellow fitness center member introduced them, thinking they'd bond over their German heritage. But according to Reich, he had his eyes on Shoemaker long before that.

“I said, ‘Hey, this is a nice looking chick..’ Why not?” said Reich.

The two started spending more and more time together. They would go out to eat, go to church, and of course, work out together every day. 

By 2025, the couple decided to make it official and tie the knot.

“Of course I have so many friends here and they helped,” said Shoemaker. “They said, ‘Oh! We’re going to take you shopping! We’re going to buy a wedding dress.’”

At 84-years-old, Shoemaker went wedding dress shopping with friends from the gym and said ‘I do’ at the courthouse on July 10th.

Those same friends then threw her a wedding reception the next day at the fitness center, where it all started. 

“Of course they threw us a party,” Shoemaker said.

One month later, ‘Congratulations Hans and Gisela’ is still written on the gym's chalk board, and the newlyweds are able to walk by it and smile every day.