Don and Eunice got married on June 17, 1955. They met during spring break in 1951 at a church roller skating party. Kalamazoo Christian Reformed Church was having a roller skating party and Eunice went with her friend Mary Bosker. Don was writing a paper during spring break while attending Grand Rapids Junior College and he needed a break from writing the paper. He and his cousin Homer decided to attend the same skating party.
In May of 1952, Don joined the Navy.
Don and Eunice dated during the 2 ½ years while he was in the Navy. Don got out of the Navy in October of 1954 and they got married in June of 1955. Don finished his degree after the Navy at Western Michigan during which time they both stayed in a dorm at Western Michigan.
The marriage took place at Pinerest Christian Children’s Home in Cutlerville, Michigan. Eunice taught Sunday school there so they could rent the chapel for free. They wanted to get married on a different day but the chapel was being used by the preacher’s daughter so they picked June 17 instead.
The day of the wedding was a hot day and the church did not have air conditioning. Uncle Abe sang during the wedding. Al, Don’s brother was the best man. Mary Bosker, a friend on Eunice’s was the maid of honor. Aunt Helen was a bridesmaid as well as Beth Devries, Eunice’s brother’s wife. After the wedding ceremony, there was a sit down supper in the church basement at First Church in Cutlerville catered by Jennie Devries (Eunice’s mom). Once the dinner was over, the couple got in their car and headed to a local Motel. They were followed by three college roommates that were going to harass Don and Eunice at the hotel. Don’s Brother Al saved the day because he was the first car behind them and led them to a narrow gravel road that had a one lane bridge. Al stopped and parked on the bridge and Don and Eunice were able to drive merrily on.
Don and Eunice honeymooned in Colorado for three weeks on $300. They cooked most of their meals on a Coleman gas stove and ate on a collapsible table which they had taken along. The limit for a hotel room was $7 a night and each room was checked out before it was paid for. They had ten flat tires during the three week trip.
In the summer of 2005, the entire family went to Chicago, Illinois and spent a week at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. We were lucky that everyone was able to attend this event which was a celebration of 50 years of marriage between Don and Eunice.
