File:2016 - Tony and Marvel Vorwerk 72 anniversary article.jpg

source:RN Baur estate.

Elton Vorwerk and Marvel Jaus 72nd wedding anniversary.

Vorwerks celebrate 72 years of marriage by Maggie Buettner

On Monday, June 6th, (2016) Elton and Marvel Vorwerk, formerly of Gibbon, celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. They are currently residing in the Fairfax Nursing Home.

A special prayer was said for the couple during the morning chapel and the residents sing “Happy Anniversary” to them at lunch. A small family party was held in the afternoon. Elton recited a table prayer his father used and Psalm 145 in German. Elton will turn 98 years old on June 29th and Marvel turned 94 years old two weeks ago.

Their marriage was blessed with four children, two boys of whom they lost in infancy. They also have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren

72 years ago, Moltke Township had endured a very wet spring. So wet Elton was not able to plant his four acres of oats until June 4th, two days before his wedding. But his wedding day was sunny and the church was filled with beautiful peonies. Elton married his sweetheart, Marvel Jaws, on June 6th 1944. If that date sounds familiar you may not remember this wedding but maybe the fact this was the start of World War II. Marvel received a phone call that morning from Ruth Grewe urging her not to get married because the war had started.

The wedding party consisted of family and friends, four bridesmaids and four groomsmen. One of the original groomsmen, Harvey Meyer, was unable to make it as he was stuck in California. He was aboard a Liberty Ship and their boat ran into the shore a few days earlier destroying their boat and all their belongings. He was delayed and unable to make it to Minnesota for the ceremony.

Pastor Rohde officiated the ceremony at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. This was the church's last wedding ceremony recited and spoken in German. Elton was excited to have a new suit for the occasion and Marvel spend $75 on her wedding dress. Her dress is currently a showpiece in her granddaughter's bridal shop in Texas and known as the “Marvel.”

The couple observe many traditions with wedding. Their reception meal was made by Aunt Annie. Shivaries of neighbors and friends crash their party looking for food and beverages as it was a custom in those days. The couple was serenaded by Vorwerks of New Ulm who had brought along their instruments and voices. Their fine china pattern with white dishes with silver and blue designs which the bride had saved up to to purchase. My Dad paid me $0.10 a bale,” claimed Marvel as she reminisced about bailing on the farm.

2 weeks after the wedding they finally took their honeymoon. “We went to Rice Lake,” said Elton, “ because the sun fish were biting. I had a rod and reel and she had a purse. We took off and stopped to purchase bait which we kept in her purse.”They did catch the Sunfish but then Elton needed to help from the resort owner to clean them.

What a blessing to have 72 years of marriage!