John Tankovits still feels like that lucky teenage boy who met the love of his life on a winter’s night at Wheeling Park’s ice rink 40 years ago. He thinks perhaps that was the “special ingredient” in his and his wife Kim’s love story that made them winners in Weelunk‘s “How WEE Met” contest.
Kim Tankovits believes the “special ingredient” was “how young we were when we originally met, then after some years going by, we reconnected and fell in love all over again.”
[template_part type="video" title="'Need a Ride?'" description="John and Kim revisit the Wheeling Park Ice Rink, the first place they met as teenagers." url="https://youtu.be/HT2v33VQQ3Y"]John and Kim got the most votes among the three couples — the other two couples are David and Anita White and Cheryl and Gary Pompeo — whose love stories were shared via video by Weelunk. And that surprised the winning couple
“All of the love stories were special,” Kim said, and John agreed.
“I’m so excited about the win! After watching all the stories, I thought we were all winners,” Kim said.
They believe that what helped make them the top vote-getters were the many friends and family members who have supported “our love story throughout the years,” said Kim.
“I think our story won because, even after all these years, we still have so much love and respect for each other,” John added.
Kim and John's love story through the years ...
They are looking forward to spending quality time together over Valentine’s Day weekend at Oglebay, taking advantage of the prize package donated by the park.
The couple spends many holiday weekends at Oglebay — but, they are working! They have an inflatables business called JK Tank Rentals, which is often part of the park’s holiday festivities.
Thanks to the prize package, they’ll be relaxing this Valentine’s Day weekend.
Their prize includes:
• Overnight accommodations at Wilson Lodge
• Welcome champagne toast at check-in
• Mountaineer Breakfast Buffet
• Exclusive three-course “Leap of Faith” dinner prepared by Oglebay’s Executive Chef Tom Raymond
• Couples massage class at Oglebay’s nationally recognized West Spa
• Couples massage at Oglebay’s West Spa
• Private animal encounter at the Oglebay Good Zoo
John and Kim both grew up in Wheeling, and live in Bethlehem now. Along with their family business, John drives a school bus for Ohio County Schools, and Kim works at Undo’s in St. Clairsville. They will celebrate their 30th anniversary in June, and are the parents of two sons.
“ Our love story is that we are blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends, and of course our sons, John David and Jimmy, who make us proud every day,” Kim said.
“Our love story is timeless. I almost can’t believe how blessed we truly are to have each other. We have so many great people in our lives. The greatest is our boys John David and Jimmy. The love and support we had through this contest, and every day, is phenomenal,” John added.
Kim and John with sons Jimmy, left, and John David.
