Cupid’s Arrow struck Jim and Dorothy Jarmes nearly seven decades ago

With Valentine’s Day just two days away, it’s fitting that we feature a couple who were struck by Cupid’s arrow nearly 70 years ago. Jim and Dorothy Jarmes, who had their first date in June of 1955, have been married since Aug. 18, 1957 and will celebrate their 68th anniversary this summer.

Dorothy, who graduated from Luana High School in 1954, explained how they met.

“I was working at the variety store with Jim’s mother and she suggested we go out when he was on leave from the service,” she said.

Jim, a 1953 graduate of Postville High School, commented, “We went to a dance at Spillville but it didn’t go very well and I was surprised when she agreed to go out with me again some time later when I came back from college in Cedar Falls.”

Things went much better on subsequent dates and they spent most free weekends at dances at the Heidelberg. 

“We also went on lots of picnics,” Dorothy said. “I was an usher at the Iris Theater so I was able to see all the movies.”

Following their engagement at the Heidelberg, they tied the knot at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana. With no time for a honeymoon, as Jim had to be back at work on Monday, they were at home in Waterloo while Jim attended Iowa State Teacher’s College and worked at Rath Packing Plant. Dorothy also worked at Rath where she worked on one of the first computers.

Time in Waterloo, Jim and Dorothy agreed, was spent working while Jim continued to take college courses.

“I wanted to take Dorothy to the movie ‘The Three Stooges Go To Mars’ for our first anniversary but that wasn’t her idea of a good time,” Jim said.

Both wanting to get back to their roots in northeast Iowa, especially farming, they made the move in 1959. Their first three boys, Kendal, Steve and Alan were born as they moved to three different farms before buying their current farm on Cherry Valley Drive northeast of Postville in 1965. 

”It seemed like every time we moved we added a baby or two,” Dorothy said with a smile. “Gary and Julie were born after we moved here.”

“This was a busy time,” Jim said. “I bought the milk route in 1961, we bought this place in ‘65 and we did most of the work on the inside of the  house ourselves with the help of Dorothy’s dad and several others. We were also milking 40 cows at the same time.”

“The boys knew how to work,” Jim said. “Kendal and Steve took turns doing chores and making breakfast and getting the younger kids ready for school and out to the bus.

“The boys knew the cows by names and could even ride the heifers,” he said.

Family life for the Jarmes  family wasn’t all work, as they took time to travel and see other parts of the country. 

“We drove to Texas and New Jersey,” Dorothy said. “We also visited my sister’s family in California. We always drove straight through. I packed sandwiches and the kids stretched out in the backseat. Julie even slept in the back window.”

“At home the kids had a ball field in the front yard and on Sunday afternoons everyone would clean their vehicles and line them up in the front yard,” she said. “The boys would line up their cars and Jim would get out his tractors.”

“We always supported their school activities as well,” Jim said. “The boys were into football and wrestling and Julie was quite the drummer in band.”

In recent years, with the children out of the nest, Dorothy worked over two decades at Norplex.

“When Jim was out on the road, I had some co-workers come out to the house after work to help me tear our kitchen down to the studs and begin the remodeling process,” she said.

“I just told her not to change the window,” Jim said. “I wasn’t sure what I’d come home to but she knew what she was doing.”

Reflecting on marriage and family life in the 60’s and 70’s compared to now, Jim said, “We didn’t make a big deal of Valentine’s day or other holidays but the lifestyle was so different.  We talked to each other. Today everything is about cell phones and texting. Young people don’t talk to each other any more.”

“We have computers, a tablet and cell phones and I use them for book work, pictures and looking up information,” Dorothy said. “But, we’re not addicted to them.”

“We lead a pretty quiet lifestyle now,” the couple said in agreement. “We did take many trips to Vegas, where we enjoyed walking the strip and going to shows, but now we’re content to stay close to home.”

Jim enjoys reading and watching old movies and Dorothy is an avid card player. Family time, too, is enjoyed by both of them.

Family includes, Kendal and his wife Robyn, Steve and his wife, Gabby and Gary and his wife, Jaci. Grandchildren are Cody, Tess, Jake, Casey and Corey. Son Alan passed away at age 2 1/2 and daughter Julie as a young teenager. Their grandson, Cale, is also deceased.

”It is during the hard times that it’s especially important to lean on each other and get strength from your spouse,” Jim said.

Agreeing that there are no secrets to a happy marriage, the Jarmes agreed that trust and honesty play a big part in a relationship. Jim commented, “Communicating with each other and being forgiving are necessary for a successful relationship.”

Dorothy added, “Working out differences is important and never giving up no matter the circumstances.”

Happy Valentine’s Day to Jim and Dorothy Jarmes and all couples, whether young or young at heart, who have been struck by Cupid’s arrow.