By Carol Kufner of Clear Lake
When I was about seven, the boy across the alley named Jack was about three years older. When my friends and I played “house” on a blanket in the yard, Jack would come along on his bike and try to run us over.
As time went on, Jack and I grew up, went to school together, and started dating off and on. Low and behold, we fell in love and got married. We have now been happily married 66 years raising a large family. Jack does not try run us over anymore -- he is the kindest person in the world and takes good care of me, as I am not in the best of health.
Here is a little more about our long life together ...
After graduating, 40 years as a lithographer, raising our four kids, and 35 years of living in White Bear Lake, we bought a home on Lake Julia in Palmer. We and our whole family (four children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren) have spent many days enjoying lake living.
Meanwhile, Jack and I got involved in volunteer work. We worked mostly for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program doing many different jobs, including reading to kids at school, Readers Theatre, and 10 years of serving lunch at the Salvation Army, which was one of our favorite jobs. Over the years, we each logged in 2,000 hours of community work.
Another thing we did is travel a lot. We have been to Europe several times, on cruise ships, and many wonderful trips in our own country. Our family has had many fun parties for us -- 25th, 35th, 50th and so on.
After COVID, our age started catching up with us, and our life has become a little more quiet.
We belong to the Becker Senior Center Club where we have met many new friends and have helped out there as well. We were also active in the Briggs Lake Association for many years.
Now that we are both in our 80s my health is not so great. But the naughty little boy (Jack), has been my helping hand in all we do together.
So, for 66 years life has been good to us and we are so very proud of all of our family.