Class Notes

On December 19, 2008, my husband and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with champagne and a special dinner at home. It was a fun time, actually one more good time in a long line of wonderful experiences that began in 1969 at Iowa State University. But the relationship didn’t begin so well. During our senior year in 1969, my roommates and I decided to have a Christmas party, matching couples in our heads (and not telling them who they were intended for). This back-fired when Kent called in the afternoon to tell us he was bringing a date. In February, my roommates and I wrote Valentine poems to send to our friends. Kent and his roommates retaliated by writing limericks about us and attached them to gift-wrapped shoeboxes filled with horse manure. Even now, how these events led to a great friendship, a lifetime of love and adventure, and 38 years of marriage is difficult to explain. Our first date was actually in March of 1970 when we went to Tony’s Little Italy for pizza. We had fun that night and during the rest of the spring. By “coincidence” we always seemed to arrive at the Beyer parking lot at the same time to walk to our 8 o’clock together. We were engaged in June and married in December of 1970. We’re still best friends and the adventure continues. Kent (Math ’70) and Lou Ann Sandburg (English’70) Little did we know when we were married in 1970, how very busy our lives would become so close to Christmas?

We got married at St. Thomas Aquinas, but had a special ceremony after the wedding at the Campanile, followed by a trip through campus on Cy-Ride with our wedding party. We had our reception at the Scheman Building.

My husband and I got married at St. Thomas Aquinas in October 2000 and had our reception in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Between the two of us we have five degrees from Iowa State, so campus will always hold a place in our hearts.

Kathy (Craig) Uitermarkt - '01 (and Brent Uitermarkt '00)

Our reception was held in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union, and our wedding was at St Thomas Acquinus across the street. We lived in West Pammel Court from Aug 1974 to Aug 1975. We believe our unit was the last to be torn down.

Here is a love story for you... my parents met and fell in love at ISU, married 1972, still going strong my aunt Mindy and Uncle Jeff Gamm met and married while at ISU my aunt Jenny and Uncle Al Ruechel met and married while at ISU my husband and I met and married while at ISU, we were married in 1999. Here is a photo of us with our daughter Madeline at her first football game at Jack Trice. Now our son Nathan and daughter both want to meet their mates at ISU someday. Guess there might really be something to campanilling... Bethany (FCSEd. 2001, M.Ed. 2004) and Mark (Nutritional Science, 2000) Lawson

Steve Good - Fort Dodge, Iowa - 2004 Graduate - Finance & International Business Tillie Good - Westside, Iowa - 2004 Graduate - Political Science

I first met Laura in the ISU marching band. I was a super cool (and humble) drummer and she was a cute mellophone player. She turned me down the first time I asked her out, but a year and a half later we hit it off and have been together ever since. We married in 2001 and lived in Minneapolis until 2005 - we now live in Ames and have 2 kids - Emily, 2 1/2 yrs old, and Dallas, 1 month old. The engagement photo (above) was taken Nov 7 1999. I surprised her by sending her on a treasure hunt around Ames in my old souped-up-Chevelle that eventually led her to me at the campanile. As luck would have it an Iowa State Daily photographer snapped our picture and it ran in the paper the next day. I wish I could take credit for planning that part because over the course of the next day everywhere she went people had seen it and congratulated her - and made it even more special!

I am a '07 graduate from ISU with a degree in Computer Science and Becca is a '08 graduate from ISU with a degree in Psychology. Becca and I met working up in ValleyFair in MN in the summer of 2005. I was a student at ISU at the time and Becca was going to St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN but was looking for a change. Luckily, she decided to join me down at Iowa State for the rest of her college years. I was in the marching band for all 4 of my years at ISU and Becca also joined in for one of her years there. After both graduating and getting married, we now live in Ankeny and both work at Principal Financial (I am an IT Application Analyst and Becca is a Disability Claims Associate). Our Engagement - 10-20-2006: One of our favorite traditions at Iowa State is going Campaniling on Friday night of homecoming week. Knowing this I set up a surprise midnight proposal to Becca in front of the MU's fountain. When the clock struck midnight I took Becca from the Campanile over to the fountain where our parents and a large group of our friends setup a path and a giant heart made of flower petals and candles. Becca was completely surprised and didn't even realize everything was setup for her at first. With fireworks going off and the band playing the fight song we got engaged! Our Wedding - 06-07-2008: We have always thought that the Iowa State campus was beautiful and we knew it was a perfect location for our wedding day. We decided to have our wedding ceremony in Memorial Lutheran Church (on Lincoln way right across from the MU) and to have our reception in the Great Hall of the MU. We rented golf carts for the day to allow our us and our wedding party (8 of 10 who are now ISU grads) to use the campus as the backdrop for our pictures. Luckily the weather turned out nice and we were able to use many different locations. The wedding turned out great and all our guests loved seeing the campus and also how nice the MU turned out for our reception.

The year was 1958. The site was Dr. King’s freshman chemistry lecture. The cute blond was Ann Nelson, Chi Omega pledge. I was a Phi Delta Theta pledge (Jerry Ward). It took awhile. We did double date (with others) in the fall of 1961, but didn’t actually date each other until January of 1962. It was smooth sailing after that - although graduation and Ann’s working and my Navy tour managed to delay our wedding until December of 1964. Since then, and after 44+ years together, we’ve retired in Arizona and are really enjoying it. This, too, took awhile – only 11 moves over the years, including both coasts and the Midwest. Iowa State memories and lifelong friends from ISU remain at the top of our list.

Meg + Ryan Meg Williams and I were both leaders in residence hall student government at Iowa State during the fall of 1994, so we knew each other from the many meetings and activities that we did together. Two weekends that December would bring us together under some curious circumstances. Dec 2, 1994 – Room Party My roommate “Mouth” (Jason Mahoney) and I planned a party in our room, because my brother Jared was visiting from Buena Vista University. We enjoyed the evening and decided to visit the building party in Maple Hall to do some dancing. There we ran into Meg with some of her friends, and when the Maple party ended, we invited them back to our room to continue the party. The RA on duty never made rounds that night, so we knew the party could continue. I had an office Christmas party to attend the next night in my home town, and I needed a date. I knew Meg had a boyfriend, but I decided to ask her anyway. People love that part. She said she would let me know the next day, which I interpreted as “no”. Our room party finally shut down at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. Dec 3, 1994 – Christmas Party Meg and I met for breakfast an hour later, as we were hosting residence hall student government leaders from other schools and had time commitments. Meg told me then that she couldn’t go with me to the Christmas party, but it was because she had to lead her house’s floor party that night. She asked me to stop by when I got back from Glidden. That night, I drove 60 miles each way, from Ames to Glidden and back, in pea-soup fog, racing through dinner, to get back to Ames to see Meg. By the time the night was done, Meg had broken up with her boyfriend, but it wasn’t any more clear where she and I were. Dec 4, 1994 – Dinner On Sunday, it was time to study for finals. Mouth and I were in our room studying that night, revisiting the curious events of the weekend. Suddenly there were four well dressed ladies at our door. Meg and friends had gone to dinner and stopped by to say hello. Things were looking up again. Dec 9, 1994 – First (Second?) Date [Flashback] A friend of mine asked me to accompany her to The Nutcracker on December 9. I thought that sounded like a great idea. I didn’t have anything else going and I enjoyed her company. [Second flashback] Mouth thought it would be great to have a guys night out on December 9. Never mind that none of us had girlfriends. I made a second attempt at asking Meg out on a first date. It wouldn’t be anything formal, just hanging out at Cy’s Roost. This time she accepted. After picking up my first date, attending the Nutcracker, and returning her to her sorority, I picked up Meg and we joined guys night out at Cy’s Roost for our first date, my second of the night. People love that part too. Sep 9, 1995 – Wedding Bells It turned out that Meg and I were perfect for each other, and we fell absolutely in love. We were married on 9/9, the 9 month anniversary of our first date, and we danced our first dance to Billy Joel’s classic: You may be right, I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for. Today Today we are living in St. Louis with four children. Dani is 13, Andrew is 9, and Emily and Jacob are 7. We still have season football tickets and make it back to campus a half dozen times a year for various activities. That brings me to the last bit of our story that people love when they hear it. Sometime in 1996 – That Guy At one of the first few Cyclone football games we attended after we were married, Meg hit me on the arm and said “YOU’RE THAT GUY!” Of course, I had no idea what she was talking about. It turns out she sat 10 rows behind a loud-mouth, shirtless, painted-chest football fan during college and couldn’t stand the guy. Then she married him.

Ruth Ellen Hartwell and Vernon John Rossow met in the library (the only one) at the then Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa in October of 1945. Ruth was beginning her sophomore year in dietetics after transferring from Creighton University in Omaha. Vernon was in the seventh semester of the Navy V-12 program on the way to becoming a deck officer. He also had just arrived at Iowa State College from Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg. Classes had started but Ruth and Vernon had not yet found out that Friday night dances were a good way to find a date, so that both felt a little lonely, and overwhelmed by the size of Iowa State (around 5000 students at the time). Because Ruth had to go to the library anyway, she off-handedly told her 5 room mates in Hughes Hall that she was going to the library to pick up a young man for a date the coming weekend. At about the same time, Vernon was moping around his room in Friley Hall, a next door dormitory, and was advised by his room mate to use his time wisely by going to the library to pick up a girl, and probably get a date for the weekend. At that time, the main study room at the library provided a series of long tables in parallel rows. After studying for a while Ruth had to get another book from a library clerk. On her way back to her place at one long table, she happened to walk past the table where Vernon was sitting. When their eyes met, they smiled at each other—a brave act for two shy people. The smile was enough to get Vernon onto his feet and walk over to where Ruth sat, and introduce himself. He asked Ruth if she would like to go to the basketball game on Saturday evening (a no cost date because our activity tickets covered the cost of entry, and they did not sell popcorn). Both were depression kids, and could only afford low-cost dates. As arranged, on Saturday night Vernon went to Hughes Hall, notified the girl on duty there that he was in the lobby to meet Ruth Hartwell. She was called, and came up a few minutes later. Iowa State won in a close exciting game. Ruth and Vernon found plenty to talk about, and then made arrangements for their next date. They both say that the one thing that kept them seeing each other was that they always had a lot of fun on dates, no matter what they did---as long as it was together. That Christmas, Vernon sent Ruth a box of chocolate covered cherries (cost 50 cents), and she was thrilled. The couple became officially engaged to be married on October 12, 1947. In January 1948 Vernon went to Ann Arbor, Michigan to begin work on a master’s degree (no jobs available in aeronautical engineering at the time), and Ruth stayed at Iowa State to finish a degree in Dietetics. After Ruth graduated in June of 1948, she went to work on their wedding which occurred on August 21, 1948 in Ruth’s home church. As in college, the two were never lonely when with each other and always had fun together, even after 60 years of marriage (which occurred this past summer). As they look back on their life together, they still feel that a blend of education, special activities and events that bring couples together without appearing to be a romantic arrangement made Iowa State College (or University) an ideal place to get an education, and a mate. December 12, 2008 We have 4 children, three girls and a boy. Our two oldest daughters also attended Iowa State University. The oldest daughter, Ellen, obtained a degree in dietetics. She also obtained a masters degree in Social Services from San Diego State University, and now has her own business in Santa Rosa, CA as a licensed clinical social worker. Our second oldest daughter, Elise, obtained a degree in computer sciences from Iowa State, a masters degree in computer sciences from Santa Clara University, and a masters degree from the Art Institute in San Francisco in computer animation. She now works in computer animation for different organizations. Our son, Matthew, attended Iowa State University for two years, and decided that he wanted to work in agriculture in the state of California. He therefore transferred to Calif. Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo, Calif. For about ten years after graduation, he had his own agricultural business in the central valley of Calif. Thereafter, he worked for a company that produced Global Positioning instrumentation for tractors. After about five years with that company he accepted a job with John Deere--again working with Global Positioning systems for tractors, which brings him to Iowa quite frequently. Our fourth child and third daughter, Heidi, obtained a bachelors, masters and doctorate degree in animal sciences from the University of California at Davis, CA. She now works for the University as a researcher in human and animal nutrition. She has presented results from her work on the modelling of the digestive systems of humans and animals to research organizations in the United States, Europe and Africa. We also have six grandchildren; three girls and three boys. One of them, Meredith Bowen, attended Iowa State University. She received a bachelors degree in elementary education, with special training in English as a Second Language. Since her ISU graduation, she has been teaching ESL in the Waukee School District. She recently also completed a masters degree at Iowa State in school administration. This past April our oldest grand daughter Marie (Holst) Neal and her husband Brian honored us with our first great grand child, a girl named Jenna MacKenzie. In March 2009 we are to be honored again with our second great grand child who's parents are Julie (Dill) and Silas Rossow. They both also have degrees from Calif. Polytechnic Institute at San Luis Obispo, Calif.; a school much like Iowa State University.

Occupant in Barton Hall Majoring in Child Development Occupant in Lyon Hall Majoring in Statistics Both eating in Linden Hall Attending different classes Identical destinations in the Summer One to Baroda, India on a Fulbright One to Goa, India with a friend from Purdue Introduced by Classmates Enjoyed activities together Occupant of Maharaja Sayajirao dorm received daily letters from Occupant of Lyon Hall Occupant of Goa friend visited Baroda Enjoyed activities together She returned home to Chevy Chase, MD in April 1964 He returned to Johnstown, PA in August 1963 Wedding Bells November 28,1964 Moved together to Pittsburgh, PA Then to Frederick, MD Doris taught nursery school, first grade science, Henry employed by Department of Energy, Germantown MD Daughter September 8, 1967 Son December 4, 1968 Son April 19, 1972 Happily Ever After for 44 years!

We met in 1948 at the end of Shirley’s freshman year and Vic’s sophomore year at Iowa State College. He visited Shirley’s home town with his ISU roommate, who was a high school classmate of Shirley. The two guys were there to go fishing. First, however we all attended the Alumni Banquet at the local school. The next night a group gathered and Shirley & Vic had a discussion about their families, his service with the navy, and just generally got acquainted. The following night we went to a movie and before the night was over had decided we were meant to be together forever. We both went back to school and were married in June of 1949. We lived in Pammel Court for a year until Vic graduated as a Chemical Engineer. We moved to Washington and then Oregon and have lived there until August, 2008, when we returned to Iowa State. Coming full circle we are living in married student housing. Shirley is finishing her college career, working toward a degree in Liberal Studies. Fifty-nine years and seven daughters later, we look back on the decision made on our first date as a good one. By the way, no one caught any fish.

In 1946, the bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima and the war was over. Two Iowa high school graduates, headed hesitantly to college in Ames, Iowa. They were overwhelmed by an "over crowded" campus of ten thousand students, many being World War 11 veterans. Despite their reluctance, and several trips back home, they pledged fraternities, made friends, and entered into college life full swing. In their sophomore year, he became the football quarterback and she a cheerleader. They met during the Oklahoma game in Norman. The cheerleading squad had made the trip to try "canned" yells. The team and cheerleaders had dinner together and said their goodbyes at the train station. A "first date" and "I'll call you later" was on record. The train pulled out! A continuing courtship, a "pinning", and finally, a "proposal" under the Campanile. In June of 1950, a graduation, a newly commissioned Marine, a wedding, and, another war! Today, sixty-eight years later, at eighty, they live in Tennessee, have five children, six grandchildren, are healthy, and fondly recalling their memories at Iowa State. And, SO, now you know, the "love connection" of Barbara (Bilsten) and Don Ferguson.

We met during Homecoming week of 1998. Our greek houses (Kappa Delta and Farmhouse) were paired to do Homecoming activities together that year and we briefly met while finishing lawn display the Friday night of Homecoming. Later that night, following tradition, everyone went down to the campanile to either partake or watch the mass "campanilling". Neither my husband or I really had any intention of finding a "kissing mate" but, as fate would have it, we found ourselves standing next to each other and wound up being random campanile-ers (a pleasant surprise to us both). Scott ended up being a nice gentleman and walked me back to my dorm, during which we had some time to talk and get aquatinted. We've been together ever since! Scott proposed to me at Reiman Gardens and we were married August 5, 2000 in Ames. We now have two children, Annemarie who is 2 1/2 yrs old and Bennett who is 7 months old. Needless to say, we have many images of the ISU campanile around our home and have strong connections to the university for many reasons. We are pretty proud of our little love story. We make it back for all the football games every season, and always love homecoming time. I graduated in 2002 with B.S. in Elem. Education and a B.A. in Art and Design. Scott graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in Agricultural Business (he is now a dentist). We live in Charles City, IA.

How about three generations meeting at Iowa State and marrying. My parents, J. Dwight Brown & Betty M. Brown (Jager) met on campus, my wife (Martha J. Brown (Moss) & myself J. Douglas Brown) and our daughter Emily M. Leege (Brown) and her husband Steven Leege. It also extended to my brother and his wife and my niece and her husband, all meeting on campus and getting married. My parents, met during a campus 4-H event in the summer of 1940, they married in 1942, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2002, but my father passed on in 2003. My wife and I met in the fall of 1972 through mutual friends during our freshman year, dated throughout our college experience and were married in the fall of 1976. We grew up only eight miles apart, but didn’t connect until we were in Ames. Our daughter and her husband met in their freshman year (2003) through mutual friends of theirs. They dated through their college years, and were married last spring and currently reside in Ames. This is a quick synopsis of our family and the love connections at ISU.

The date was February 1, 1966. The social chairman of our house – Caine House in Friley Hall – had arranged a dessert exchange with the women of Welch Hall, to be held at the Friley Tearoom. I had signed up to attend. I’d been on exchanges before and knew that there was always some gimmick for getting the men paired up with the women, such as having all the gals put one of their shoes in a pile and the guys then choosing a shoe and finding the lady to whom it belonged. This time we were told to line up with males on one side of the room facing the females on the other side, shortest to tallest. I knew I was one of the shorter men in my house, so I headed for the end of the line. Anticipating what was coming next, I glanced across the way to see who my potential “date” was going to be. I was not impressed with her looks, but noted that the young lady second in line was much prettier. I quickly turned to the guy next to me and said, “Hey, you’re shorter than I am,” and made a hasty move to exchange places with him. Just then the social chairman told everyone to walk forward and meet their date for the evening. The name of that second-shortest gal was Sheryl Persinger, and I had been five seconds away from not meeting her. We spent the evening getting acquainted over ice cream sundaes and dancing to music from the jukebox. Three years later, we were married on May 4, 1969, and we will soon celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

We met during our second year at Iowa State. Scott was introduced to Christy through her Helser roommate because they both were struggling through Physics 221. We ended up reviewing homework and studying for exams together for the remainder of the semester; becoming good friends. Although we didn't share any other classes after that, as friends we enjoyed doing lots of different things at Iowa State including tailgating for ISU football games, going to ISU hockey games, going out to the bars along Welch Avenue, and even playing racquetball at State Gym. Finally, at the start of our senior year we started dating. Our dates usually included going to our favorite restaurants around Ames including Great Plains Pizza, Hickory Park, Battles BBQ, and La Fuente. Later that year Scott decided to propose following their third silent trip around Lake LaVerne! It was decided that a wedding on the picturesque Iowa State campus would be a perfect ending to our time at Iowa State. We were married on May 15, 2004 on the Campanile Lawn.

I met my husband, John, my freshman year at Iowa State before school even started in 1993. I had decided to join the marching band after seeing how much fun it was for my older sister. Band camp is held before classes start in August and I was put into the same rank (group of 8-10 people) as John. He was a junior in the marching band from South Dakota, playing the same instrument that I did. We spent many hours together that first semester in marching band practice and on game days. By the end of the marching season, we were a couple. So many of our early memories while dating are closely tied to ISU. On our first official "date" we saw a play at C.Y. Stevens. John was in the basketball pep band and during half-time of the games at Hilton I would always bring him a Clone Cone--a favorite of his still today. On special days like Valentine's Day or my birthday, I would walk to class and see personalized messages the whole way written in sidewalk chalk, courtesy of John. He also loved to put messages in The Daily, which I have saved. We were usually both in the VEISHEA parade and then would walk around campus and check out all the activities together. And like all true Iowa State couples, we would go campaniling a few times every year. We spent our summers apart--one year I was in Chicago and he was in London with the ChemE lab class through ISU. Another summer I was in Hawaii and he was in Wichita, KS. We always had our time at school together, even though we had very different majors--he was Chemical Engineering and I was Speech Comm/Communication Disorders. In the fall we had marching band together. The summer before my senior year at ISU I was living and working in Ames and he was working in Wichita. He came up for a visit for the 4th of July holiday. When he came into town late in the evening on the 3rd of July, he wanted to take a walk around campus. It was a beautiful summer night as we walked through central campus, past the library, and around Lake LaVerne. We ended up under the campanile and as the bells rang out at midnight, he proposed. A year later we were taking our wedding photos under the campanile. After 12 years of marriage, we had the opportunity to move back to the one place we knew and loved so well--Ames. We now have two young daughters and enjoy sharing with them all the unique experiences John and I had at Iowa State. They love the VEISHEA parade and all the on-campus activities, they love seeing Cy at football games and having a Clone Cone at basketball games, and they love to walk around campus. They hear many stories that start off "When Daddy and I were at school . . ." This past Father's Day we took a picnic lunch onto campus and ate under the campanile. We reminded the girls again why this was such a special place to us. As we were eating, a newly married couple came by to take some pictures under the campanile. We had to share with them that this is where it all started for us, too. A side note: The Iowa State Marching Band is probably one of the biggest dating services on campus. We know more than a few couples who had their start in marching band together. One of our favorite band couples is John's younger brother Nick Mostek and his wife April Lamos Mostek.

A little chemistry- that is all it took. I met my future husband in chemistry class the first semester of our freshman year in 1991. By December that year we were dating and coordinating classes together. I was lavaliered in February 1993 and promised in May of 1994. In February 1995, Jeffrey dressed up as Winnie the Pooh and in coordination with the ISU hockey team, "searched" though the stands to propose to me. The proposal made it to the front page of the Daily. Our picture and story was all over campus as well as on the news. In July 1995 we were married in my grandmother's church in Story City. We both have great memories of ISU and all the romance it entailed. We have been married just over 13 years, have two daughters and one son who we hope will follow in our footsteps someday and make ISU memories of their own.

Oh yes! It is amazing what the desire for food can do for a new young Navy sailor at ISC! It was July 1, 1943, the Navy had sent orders to some 700 young, mostly college students to report to ISC for a Navy V-12 program to train engineers to become Navy officers. As you can guess, there were not too many men on campus at that time. They were mostly called up for duty in the armed forces. A couple weeks after arriving, a note on campus invited Navy sailors and any young women on campus who wished to help those poor lonely, newly enlisted Navy men, to a party at Veenker golf course office. There was quite a group of sailors and ladies. After some early mixing with drinks, etc., we were told there was food inside. BUT, you had to have a lady partner to get in. For a young lad who loves to eat, this was an easy way to overcome my bashfulness. I saw this cute, petite, young brunette, just what I had been looking for, wondering toward another young sailor. I interrupted that encounter and asked if she would join me for some food. Surprise, she accepted! Thus began an effort to find out about this, in my mind, beautiful young lady. (Boy was I lucky) Her name, I found out was Darlene, but that was only the beginning. Her last name was Christensen! WOW! That’s my mothers maiden name. How unusual, since I was a Larsen, please note both are ‘sen’. So, she has some Danish blood too! I couldn’t have landed anything better, if nothing else, it would certainly please my family. Not only was she a desirable, good looking Dane, but she was born and raised in Hamilton County, Iowa. Low and behold, I was born and raised in Hamilton county, Nebraska. What a coincident! The stars in my mind seemed to line up! Of course there’s her side too. She had this dark haired young sailor, she was eyeing, just before the call went out to find a partner for lunch. Well that would have to be put on hold. You noted, I was a somewhat bashful young man from Nebraska. So, as an engineer, who had to put all his effort in those engineering classes, thinking of continuing that relationship was put on hold for me. But, that was not the case with Darlene. She had her classes, but she had a very quick and bright mind. During our discussion that evening of our meeting, she had memorized and/or sought out my class schedule. Surprise, there she was, just happened to be where I would notice her between classes. She was just what a lonely, bashful farm boy needed. We met to study, and boy did I need to study! She kept my focus on my studies as well hers. It was good for me. Now, there’s more to the story, but by the fall of 1944, she agreed to marry me and in June, 1945, between my leaving ISC and reporting for Officer candidate school In Providence RI, we were married at her Grandparents home in northwest Iowa. Mission accomplished! This is now 63 anniversaries later! Melvin and Darlene (Christensen) Larsen, BSCE, ’46; BS ZOOLOGY ‘45 There was a visit to her home, just 30 miles north. Got put in my place by a her very forward Mother. But, it was part of my growing up. There was the visit to my farm home near a tiny town in Nebraska, about the same size as hers. But, much more on the side of basic facilities and considerable different than her Grandfathers farm in the heart of some of the best farm land in Iowa.

Photo (left to right) Jon Day, Lori Day, Brie Day & Joe Day Iowa State has been great to our family! My husband Jon and I met at Iowa State in 1981. Our son Joe was first introduced to Iowa State when he attended Jon's graduation from Iowa State as a newborn baby in 1983. We later had a second son Jeff and both boys were raised as Iowa Staters! Joe begin his education at Iowa State in 2001. Just like his dad, he fell in love with an Iowa State co-ed, his future wife, Brie Harvey. The two were married in 2006. Joe graduated from Iowa State in 2005, attended graduate school in 2006 and now works at Principle Financial Group. Brie graduated from Iowa State in 2004 and from Des Moines University as a Dr. of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008. Brie is currently doing her Residency at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. Joe & Brie are expecting a son in January and we are certain that he will be the newest addition to the Cyclone family!

My wife, Roberta, and I first met at a dance class in the Memorial Union at ISU in 1957. We were sophomores, she in Industrial Engineering and I in Aerospace Engineering. For me, it was love at first sight, but Roberta required a bit more persuasion. My persistence was rewarded and we were married in 1959. She was with me as I finished my BS degree in 1960 and, several years later, the MS and PhD programs in Aerospace Engineering. We have obviously enjoyed many more experiences, joys, and sorrows since then. We are both retired now, but those memories and experiences are still precious to us. We celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary this year and are grateful to ISU for providing the opportunities which brought us together.

We are a great example of an Iowa State couple in the sense that we met, became friends, started dating, feel in love, and even were married on the campus of our Alma Mater. Our experience began when we met in the ISUCF”V”MB or, as most know it as, the Iowa State University Cyclone Football Varsity Marching Band in 2003. AJ played sousaphone and Jenny played the mellophone. We had many mutual friends and were in a lot of activities together including being fraternal brothers in Kappa Kappa Psi. It wasn't long until we became good friends with many of the same passions in life including the Cyclones. Soon when the opportunity arose we had a few shy awkward "dates" and finally Jenny confessed that she liked AJ more than a friend. Only problem was her timing since it came the night before we both were heading home for the holidays. But, thank goodness for the Cyclones going to the Independence Bowl! We were able to reunite and make it "official" over the marching band bowl trip in Shreveport, LA. But the story doesn’t end there. After a few years of dating Jenny finally graduated in December 2006 and to make sure she stayed around for his graduation AJ proposed. We set a date of April 26th 2008. AJ being from Lenox, IA (South West) and Jenny being from McGregor, IA (North East) Ames seemed like the perfect halfway point to bring our families together and share Iowa State with them. We were then married this last Spring in the court yard of Lagomarcino Hall under the beautiful magnolia trees. The ceremony was perfect and included the Iowa State commencement brass ensemble conducted by Dr. Michael Golemo who performed their special arrangement of “The Bells of Iowa State” during our unity candle lighting. But, the one thing that came unexpected was the chiming of the campanile while we said our vows that we had written for each other. AJ still hasn’t graduated, but only because he is working on his masters in Mechanical Engineering and Bio-renewable Technologies. So, we are happily settled in Ames and continue to attend Cyclone football games, take our dog for walks on campus, participate in Alumni Band, go campaniling among many other activities and traditions Iowa State has to offer.