During summer breaks from college, Don worked at the gravel pit near Dorothy’s family home in Muskego. After work Don would sometimes stop to see Warren. One day Dorothy saw Don come up to the house and when she answered the door she said, “Warren isn’t home.” Don replied, “Well, I came to see you!”
He asked her out on a date to watch an outdoor movie. That was the beginning of many dates. They fell in love and were married February 4, 1950, on an unusually warm and sunny day at Big Bend Baptist Church with lots of family and friends in attendance.
During the early years of their marriage and while attending UWM, their first child, David, was born.
After graduating college, Don eventually landed a job as a Soil Conservationist. Job transfers had the family moving to different cities in Wisconsin. Two more boys were added to the family, Cameron and Gary.
Dorothy, as a young mother of three little boys, cared for her own mother who was battling cancer. It was a very difficult time in Dorothy’s life, emotionally and physically. She was by her mother’s bedside when she passed at age 48 and several years later Dorothy’s father passed away from cancer as well.
Don and Dorothy’s only daughter, Sharon, was born a year later.
Don and Dorothy have devoted themselves over the years in the lives of their 4 children and spouses, their 12 grandchildren and now 14 great-grandchildren. They were able to retire in a beautiful home on their land in the country and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Dorothy is now in a Memory Care home in West Bend and Don faithfully goes to see her almost every day. Their love and devotion is an example to not only their family, but to their friends from church, caregivers, and anyone who knows them. Their marriage has stood the test of time … 74 years.
Dad’s marriage advice:
Always attend church together as a family each Sunday and keep the Lord the center of your marriage as you trust Him through the highs and lows of marriage.
Love one another, be faithful and patient with one another, consult each other before making decisions, consider the other’s feelings, and praise and encourage each other.
And lastly, try to remember and celebrate special occasions, like birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day.
