Tammy Partsch
We first became friends in junior high in Nebraska City, when we had friends who were dating each other. Even though we dated other people during high school, we would flirt with each other quite a bit! At the end of his senior year, Dave asked me, (I was a year younger), out on a date. That night, after our first date, I wrote in my diary that I was going to marry Dave. I was 17; he was 18. At the end of that first summer, as Dave was preparing to leave Nebraska City to go to college, we talked about whether our new relationship would survive being apart. I happened to mention to Dave that my parents had season tickets to the Nebraska football games and he could go with them anytime he wanted. That sealed it. They were married in January 1998, while Dave was in his second year of law school and I had just finished college. We still attend nearly every home Nebraska football game together.
Connie Reimers-Hild
Jim and I knew each other for a few years before we started dating. We met at a sand volleyball tournament in Burr, Neb. We had a mutual friend. She told me that he only like short, skinny girls. So, I figured there was no chance of us ever dating. I learned later that he thought about asking me out but did not think I would be interested. We went on with our lives.
We both lived in Lincoln and started calling each other to play sand volleyball. I was living with my sister and she asked me why we were not dating. I told her it was because he had not asked me out-and there was no way I was asking him for a date! I called one time and left him a message. He did not call me back...I thought it was the end.
We reconnected during the Cook BBQ and realized that we were interested in one another. We started dating. After a few months of dating, Jim started giving me the "let's just be friends" talk. I asked him, "Are you trying to break up with me?" (I knew he was but wanted to call him on it. He of course, still denies it to this day). My question must have worked because we kept seeing each other. He got a new job and moved to Omaha. I again thought it was the end.
After two years of dating, I was beginning to wonder if he had a plan (I was not getting any younger and was growing very impatient). He did have a plan! Jim proposed by the fireplace at James Arthur Vineyards. I got so excited when he asked me to marry him that I wanted to go someplace private. We quickly ran outside, and he proposed on bended knee while a beautiful light snow surrounded us. It was so perfect and so romantic. We were married six months later and celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last year. We have two beautiful children and two crazy dogs.
I love being married! Jim is a wonderful husband and incredible dad. Our time together has been the greatest of my life. Jim is truly my Prince Charming.
Keith and Marjorie Bruning (submitted by Tammy Partsch)
My grandfather was married to his first wife (my real grandma) for over 25 years when she passed away. He was a pastor at the Methodist Church in Columbus, Neb. at the time and a year later, ended up marrying Marjorie, one of his parishioners, who was 50-something, had never been married, and used to teach Sunday School with my real grandma! They live at the Ambassador; Grandpa Keith is 94 and Marjorie is 90. They have now been married 39 years.
