"Just loving" secret to long marriage

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 6/28/17

Marvin “Irish” and Doris Krepel met at a dance in Abie in December 1954. She was from Carroll but living in Fremont with her sister at the time. Irish, just out of the Army, was living in North Bend. Mutual friends introduced them. So starts the story that led to a marriage lasting 61 years.

Doris and Irish Krepel won the 2017 Loving Cup at the Old Settlers worship service for being married 61 years.

She was 21, he was 23. Was it love at first sight?

“Not really,” Doris said.

Eventually, it took and lasted long enough to win the Loving Cup at the 2017 Old Settlers on Sunday. The Loving Cup is presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce to the couple married the longest at the Old Settlers community worship service.

Back in 1955, the Krepels didn’t really start dating right off. They just went to events, parties, dances with the mutual friends and paired off. The did eventually start dating a few months later.

After 18 months, Doris was thinking about moving back home to Carroll.

“If I had to drive up every weekend to see her I thought we’d better get married,” Irish said.

Read the full story in the print or e-edition.

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