Leap Year Babies: Feb. 29 birthday no problem years ago
Staff writer
Birthdays are very special days for Grif Case of Marion and Dennis Klenda of Pilsen.
That's because Grif and Dennis are leap year babies. Born on Feb. 29, their birth date only comes around every four years. Grif was born in 1996 and Dennis was born in 1944.
So, if leap year babies only aged on their birth date, Grif would be two Saturday and Dennis would be 15. Luckily, it doesn't work that way.
"I still have a birthday party every year," Grif explained. He will be eight years old Saturday.
Dennis and his family also celebrate his birthday on a yearly basis. They choose either Feb. 28 or March 1 depending on which is more convenient. Dennis will be 60 years old Saturday.
Neither Grif nor Dennis mind being leap year babies.
"It's no big deal," Grif, a second grader at Marion Elementary School, explained. "We have treats at school and a party for my birthday every year."
Both males said their unique situation means they observe "special days" whenever Feb. 29 comes around.
"Every four years I get to have a very special birthday," Grif said. "This year, we're going to Kansas City to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge.
"This will be my second real birthday," Grif explained.
Grif's father, Casey Case, said birthdays always are special events in the Case household and there's no way Grif's would be left out during non-leap years.
"Grif's mom (Nikki) is a big birthday person," Casey explained. "So, we'll really yuck it up on Feb. 29."
Casey said that when Grif was born in 1996, he was the first leap year baby ever born at Marion's St. Luke Hospital.
"Then, the next leap year another baby was born there," Casey said.
When Casey and Nikki were expecting Grif, the thought that they might have a leap year baby never came to mind.
"Nikki went into labor, then about 1 or 2 a.m. a nurse came in and said, 'Looks like you're going to have a leap year baby,'" Casey said.
"Then, after he was born, they came in all sober-looking and we were worried that something was wrong with the baby," Casey recalled.
"There was nothing wrong with the baby. They just wanted to know if we wanted counseling because we had a leap year baby!" Casey said laughing.
"We didn't care. We thought it was great," he said.
Being a leap year child has never been an issue for Dennis either.
Born on Feb. 29, 1944, in Hillsboro, Dennis said he's enjoyed his unique birth date.
"People always make a fuss over your birthday," he said. "It never bothered me that I didn't have a birthday every year because when I did have one it was special."
Interestingly enough, Dennis had to share his birth date with a family member. His cousin, Danny Kroupa, was born on the same day.
"He lived around here for a while, but moved away," Dennis said.
Dennis said his grandmother, Emma Sklenar, always made sure his birthdays were special. Dennis was raised by his grandmother after his mother died when he was two years old.
"I lived with my grandma until I was in the first grade and my dad remarried," Dennis said. "Grandma would always make a cake and take my picture on my birthday."
When he married, Dennis' wife, Terry, took over in the birthday planning department.
"She's pretty good about planning special events," he said. In fact, one is planned this year at the Pilsen Community Center.
Dennis has always had a lot of fun using his "technical age."
In fact, Dennis has had a lot of fun "playing" with his age. One of his most interesting Feb. 29 birthdays was the year he turned 11 (44) and his son turned 11 one month earlier on Jan. 26.
Another fun time occurred four years later.
"On my 12th birthday, my wife and I announced we were going to have a baby," Dennis said laughing.
Family and friends have even caught the spirit.
"Yeah, I've had people bring in a gift for a little kid," he said.
"My mom didn't like that I was born on Feb. 29," Dennis said. "But I actually enjoy it."
