From the Twin Cities, with love

Nancy Slavik is sworn in as Sterling Postmaster while husband Kurt holds the bible. In the same ceremony Kurt was sworn in as Rock Falls Postmaster. (Alex T. Paschal/SVN photo)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Dixon newlyweds Nancy Gosch-Slavik and Kurt Slavik, married only 3 short months, have another reason to celebrate. Surrounded Wednesday by friends, family, community leaders and fellow postal workers at Oppold Marina, and with a thick black Bible in hand, Nancy was sworn in as the Sterling postmaster and Kurt as her counterpart in Rock Falls. Kurt was hired in April, Nancy in July. In between, they married. "A year ago, I would have never predicted that I would be standing here today in this position, and I never thought I'd be married again," Kurt told the crowd. It's not unusual for postmasters to marry, but the fact that they're across the river from each other is unique, Kurt said. "We can meet on the bridge for lunch," he joked. Both Slaviks have been with the U.S. Postal Service for years. In fact, they met in the service, 15 years ago, when Kurt was a delivery analyst for the district office in Chicago and Nancy was a supervisor at St. Charles. They both have been postmasters, as well. Nancy, 52, was postmaster in Lanark in 2003, Rock Falls in 2005 and DeKalb in 2007. Kurt, 51, was the Island Lake postmaster in 2004. They began dating in September, when Kurt was the officer in charge of the Cary Post Office In December, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery. Afterward, he moved to Dixon to be closer to Nancy, who has lived there 8 years. He had to undergo a dozen chemotherapy treatments, the last one 3 weeks ago. The ordeal didn't affect his work and only brought the couple closer, Kurt said. "Nancy stayed with me the entire time I was in the hospital after the surgery," he said. "There are still side effects from everything, but it's not nearly as bad as it could have been." Added Nancy, "It was a little scary, considering that I had just found him." Darla Rangel, a supervisor at the Rock Falls Post Office, has worked with both Slaviks during their stints as postmaster there. "Nancy is a go-getter and tackles anything you put in front of her," Rangel said. "Kurt is still fairly new here, but he's been able to handle a lot of challenges that are presented to him." Their love connection came as a surprise to district office manager Bob Hart. "When Nancy first applied, I was surprised to see she shared the same name with the postmaster across the river," he said. Postmaster is a distinguished and highly sought-after position in the community, and one the couple will handle well, Hart said. The Slaviks, who plan to move to the Sterling-Rock Falls area in the next year, are looking forward to working with, and for, their communities. "We both have the opportunity to educate the public on new technologies in the postal service. We want to be a positive part of the community," Kurt said. "The postal service is very much about service to the community," Nancy added.