Lovebirds celebrate 70th anniversary

    Jack and Ina Wilson of Imperial celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at the Imperial Manor last Friday during a festive party with decorations and lots of good food.
    Many friends and acquaintances were in attendance as well as receiving a multitude of congratulatory cards.
    Sunday was their official anniversary.
    The Wilsons were married Sept. 15, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman.
    They met and dated all through high school, Jack said.
    Jack graduated in the spring of 1948 and Ina in 1949.
    “I helped my dad on the farm until 1951 before going to work for the Department of Roads for the State of Nebraska,” he said.
    Jack’s job moved them to different locations over the years, which included Benkelman, Grant, Elwood and eventually Imperial in 1977 where he remained and became superintendent for the district road department headquartered in Imperial.
    “I started on a shovel and ended up superintendent,” said Jack.
    He retired in 1994 after 43 years.
    Ina’s interests leaned toward healthcare.
    She began working at the hospital in Benkelman at age 13 for room and board, she said.
    She later received her LPN license.
    During her career, Ina was the first Director of Nursing for a nursing home facility in Elwood.
    She also retired in 1994.
    “When we moved to Imperial, we grew to love the town and its super people. It became home to us,” Ina said.
    The couple has been very active in the community over the years.
    Jack served on the Imperial Community Center board for 20 years.
    They established a reputation for their generosity and caring attitude. In 2018, they were honored as Grand Marshals of the Chase County Fair Parade.
    The anniversary celebration at the manor touched their hearts, said Ina.
    “It was wonderful,” she said.
    When asked their advice on a long, happy marriage, Jack said, “It takes love, devotion and determination.”
    He never thought any different from the beginning of their marriage, he added.
    “We took one day at a time as the Lord handed it to us,” said Jack.
    “A good marriage consists of three people—a man, a woman and God. Do that and you’ve got it,” Ina said.
    The Wilsons raised three children and now have six grandchildren and great-grandchildren, “too numerous to count,”said Jack.