By Caroline Peplinski, Current Staff
When an old picture of unknown high school sweethearts was shared online last week, West Benders wondered who they were.
As it turns out, today marks their 40th wedding anniversary.
Marie (Heltemes) and Mike Fiebig appeared holding hands in a photo included in an April 18 article posted at the West Bend Current that recalls former students’ memories of the West Bend High Schools courtyard and speculates on its future. The caption for the photo, which was taken during the 1977-78 school year, listed the couple as “unnamed.” After receiving community input via social media and a message from their daughter, the Current was able to confirm the identities of the former students.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Fiebig graduated from West Bend East High School in 1978. While the Fiebigs say they did not frequent the courtyard while at WBHS, they fondly recall another element of the high school that has since changed.
The Mod system of scheduling mentioned in the earlier article was in place while the Fiebigs were in school. They mentioned the freedom and independence the system allowed.
“Mike liked the Mod system as it gave him a lot of free time,” Marie Fiebig said. “I liked it because I had more time to get homework done and I could go to work early.”
Their daughter, Jennifer Taylor, is a first-grade teacher at Fair Park Elementary School and also attended WBHS. She graduated from West in 2000 and says she only occasionally utilized the courtyard area.
“I didn’t frequent the courtyard often, but remember hanging out there with friends during lunch on occasion,” Taylor said.
(Archival photo is from the 1977-78 WBHS yearbook.)
The West Bend Current 
Marie and Mike: handsome couple then and now.