Tekamah-Herman Class of 1978 Love Birds

Below are many love stories from the 1978 class of Tekamah-Herman. They fell in love as high school sweethearts and are happily married all of these years later. What a great Valentine’s Day story from all of them!

By Robin (McNear) Tilson

Terry and I first met in 1975 when I was a freshman and he was a senior. We met in a Chess class when we had mini courses after the new year. I was horrible and he tried to help me. We became friends immediately. We talked on the phone all the time. We had our first date in March of 1975 and he took me to Pizza Hut! I knew immediately that he was “the one” for me. He says the same and told a couple of his friends that he was going to marry me someday. We were together all through my high school time and he proposed to me on my 18th birthday outside of the old Mr C’s restaurant before we went to dinner with my family. Surprise for them! We were married August 18, 1979 and have been married 34 years. We have 2 kids and one beautiful granddaughter. We moved to Chicago 2 days after we were married and lived there for 27 years before moving to Ft Lauderdale, where we currently live. All I can say is I wouldn’t have changed a thing and can’t imagine not being with him! Oh, and I still can’t play chess!

Robin and Terry Tilson when in high school.

Robin and Terry’s wedding.

Robin and Terry now.

 

By Sarah (Bromm)Broderson

Sarah and Bret Broderson

Bret and I met in the 7th grade. Had our first date when we were Freshman and dated off and on till November 9th 1976. Bret asked me to go steady and have been together ever since. Knew he was the one from the beginning….Graduated in 1978 and Bret proposed on July 1978 and got married in March 15th of 1980. We had two boys and four grandchildren. Bret farmed and the boys came home from college and farmed with us. Wouldn’t have changed a thing either….spent my life with my soul mate and hopefully many more years to come!

By Jane (Gobel) Elske

For me it was love at first sight…My parents moved us here in August of 1977. I was so excited about moving to the country in a small town. We were from Omaha but my grandparents lived in a small town and I loved it. I was walking to my home economics class which was at the west side of the highschool when I happened to look up and lock eyes with Richard. I had the wierdest feeling come over me and thought to myself…Im going to marry that guy!!! Later that week we were decorating a float for homecoming and he was there again so I started asking ? about him. We were all at Stouts (at that time the local hangout) and my little sister had taken our car and I was stranded. Richard had offered to help me find her and while driving around we stopped briefly on Beck Ave and shared a first kiss. He asked me to homecoming and the rest is history. We married in November of 78….had 3 beautiful girls and enjoy 10 awesome grandkids…I couldn’t imagine life without him!

Richard and Jane Elske celebrating an anniversary.

Richard and Jane Elske with all of their children, their spouses and grandchildren.

Roxanne (Kjeldgaard) and Russell Kruse when they were first together.

By Russell Kruse

Roxanne and I first dated in November of 77. I had already joined the Army but was not leaving until July of 78 following graduation. We corresponded while I was in Germany and she was a Junior. When Dad got cancer in Jan 79, the Army brought me back to the states to be near him. Roxanne and I continued to date through her Senior year. After graduation in May 80, she moved to Omaha and we married in September 80. She has followed me around the World to Germany, Korea and all over the US. We have settled in “UCLA” Ugly Corner of Lower Alabama. One County away from Georgia, One county away from Florida. We have been married 33 years and waited 6 years to have kids. We have 3 boys all attending College either in Auburn, Alabama or Mobile. This is our first year of being “empty nesters” and are enjoying “OUR” time. Both Moms live near us so we don’t have to travel far to visit.I cannot imagine sharing my life with anyone else.

Roxanne and Russell on their wedding day.

Russell and Roxanne now.

By Jeannene (Bundy) Schutt

OK, Tim had always been “around” but in Oct of 1975…also while working on homecoming…what is with homecoming He was out riding up and down “the bricks” on his motorcycle. The girls decided to flag him down for a ride…I was the last one on and never got off.We dated from then on and just always talked about getting married and having kids. We married Aug 12, 1978. We had 4 kids in 5 years. The teenage years about did us in…but we are survivors! We have lived within 45 miles of Tekamah our whole lives. We love to travel…and we have upgraded that motorcycle. We now have 10 grandchildren and they are of course PERFECT! The secret to these long relationships…who knows. As you see we have all lead very different lives??? I saw a couple on the Today Show once that answered to that question after 75 years of marriage…we got married and just decided to stay married I hope we can all be so lucky!

Tim and Jeannene (Bundy) as young love birds.

Tim and Jeannene on their wedding day.

Tim and Jeannene’s 35th wedding anniversary.

Tim and Jeannene with their entire family.

By Kim (Modlin) Kegler

Okay, this hurts my head to think back SO FAR AGO! Tom asked me to Homecoming in the fall of 1973, I was in 7th grade, he was a freshman! I do remembering getting a white/black pearl ring for Christmas plus perfume! Big spender. Still have the ring! This stint continued until the summer of ’74 when he BROKE my heart. Tom graduated in 76 and went to the Marine Corps BUT I was the keeper of his guitar during basics! Something was still there…home on leave, Homecoming 77 and I invited him to be my date. Dec 28, 1977 he asked me to marry him when I went over into Iowa to pick him up – on leave again… and he produced my diamond out of his guitar case. Married July 28, 1978 – yes 35 years. We lived for 2 years in Beaufort, SC to finish up his enlistment and Shane was born there at the Naval Hospital. Moved back to Tekamah in Sept 80 and to Herman in 82. We have a wonderful daughter in law and 2 beautiful granddaughters. I can’t imagine life with anyone else.

Tom and Kim (Modlin) Kegler during their dating days.

Tom and Kim Kegler now.

By Lynn (Comes) Olson

Rob came to where I was babysitting in January of my freshman year and asked me to sweetheart ball. He was a sophomore. I said yes and that was our first date. We went together all through high school. He was a wrestler and I was a wrestling cheerleader. We got married August 15, 1980, and have been married for 33 years. We have 3 children, Brandy 33, Brad 27, and Brittney 20, who we couldn’t be more proud of. We have lived in Tekamah all our lives since Rob is a farmer and has a hunting business and I am a hairdresser here in town. Wouldn’t change a thing! Here’s to 33 more!

Lynn (Comes) and Rob Olson attending a high school dance.

Rob and Lynn Olson with their three children.

By Debbie (Aden) Regan

I wasn’t interested in Ron. I was in band and he was a jock. He asked me out for his graduation night (1977) thanks to Danny Farber. I accepted and the rest is history. We dated and I found out he wasn’t the person I thought he was. He proposed in his room (which was an old chicken coop that he converted into a bedroom) fall of 1980. We got married sept 12, 1981 and we moved to Idaho on Sept 1983. This was my husband’s dream. We have been married for 31 years with 2 beautiful children and one adorable grandson. I can’t believe we have made it and yet I can’t imagine life without him. Love isn’t planned. It happens when you don’t expect it.

Ron and Debbie (Aden) Regan on their wedding day.

Ron and Debbie Regan with one of their children.