Gamerdingers still counting their blessings after 68 years

By Caroline Rosacker

Jim and Mary Gamerdinger of Gut-tenberg will celebrate 68 years of marital bliss on Nov. 19. The couple has 12 children with 12 spouses, 58 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Jim and Mary met on a warm June day on a Lake Michigan beach in Milwaukee, Wis. 

"I was feeling pretty good at the time," began Jim. "I had just been offered jobs by two employers. I was walking along the beach when I noticed two lovely young ladies sunbathing nearby."

Jim dipped his foot in the water and asked the women, "Is the water always this cold?" 

They replied, "No, it should warm up by August." 

Jim introduced himself and shared that he had recently served in the United States Air Force, was new to the area, and didn't know much about Milwaukee. The ladies, Mary Wellner and Janie Grunweld, introduced themselves and shared that they both worked in the Radiology Department at St. Mary's Hospital. 

"Janie announced it was time for her to return to work, and Mary said it was time for her to go home," he remembered. "The hospital was located up a big hill from the beach, so I offered them a ride in my car so they wouldn't have to walk. They both agreed."

Jim dropped off Janie, and two blocks later Mary. "I asked Mary if she would show me around town the following evening. She agreed because she thought she should help me because I had been in the service," he recalled. 

The following evening Jim's brother had unexpected friends visiting Milwaukee so Jim tagged along with them. "The day after the 'missed date' I ran into Mary again in the basement of Gimble's Department Store," he said with a smile. "I was purchasing items for my apartment, and looked across the counter and there was Mary!" 

Mary was shopping for her apartment as well. "I think the good Lord was looking after us to meet on this date –at this time – at this place!" Jim told the Press.

Jim apologized for not picking her up the night before and explained why. "Mary laughed and said she would not have been home anyway. She had been at her friend, Janie's apartment trying to avoid going out with him. Her better judgment got the best of her and she decided she didn't want to go out with a man she barely knew," shared Jim. 

From that moment on, the couple's romance began to blossom. The couple was engaged to be married and made plans for a November wedding three months later. "First we had to write 'Dear John' letters to our ex-girlfriends and boyfriends," noted Jim. "Since Mary was an Iowa farm girl, we traveled to Dunkerton to ask her parent's permission to marry."
Jim attended classes in Catholicism while Mary sewed her wedding dress and veil. The couple purchased a 1955 pink and black Ford Fairlane Victoria together prior to their nuptials.

Mary announced the day of their wedding that she intended to have 12 children, "Because big families have more fun!" 

The Gamerdingers moved away from Milwaukee and purchased a farm in Iowa following the birth of their fifth child. "The rich farmland would provide twice the crop with half the work compared to farms in Wisconsin. It was a better place to raise our kids too," he added. 

Mary gave birth to 12 children in 18 years – seven boys and five girls — making her wedding day wish come true. At the couple's 50th wedding anniversary party Mary's wedding dress, with its tiny waist, was on display along with the original purchase invoice for the Gamerdinger's first car. The couple's children put together a cookbook with recipes and stories of growing up in their large family. Many photographs and a slide show filled the church hall from their parent's lives during the early beach days to the present. "The kids surprised us with a restored pink and black 1955 Ford Fairlane Victoria! It has been a lot of fun driving that car in parades and throwing out pink and black bead necklaces. Having a big family is still a lot of fun!" he concluded with a big smile.