Bishop celebrates milestone anniversary marriages
by Anne Marie Cox | October 12, 2026
When Doug and Mary Timm, who are married 55 years, went to visit their financial advisor, he asked them: “How do you guys do it?”
“We looked at each other and said, ‘I don’t know. We just do,’” Mary said. “There’s no magic wand. I guess it’s faith and respect and tolerance, and the love of our family.”
The Timms, of Ss. John and Paul Parish in Altoona, joined nearly 60 couples who were honored as they celebrated milestone anniversaries. Bishop William Joensen honored couples married one year up to 70 years with Masses at St. Peter in Council Bluffs on Sunday, Oct. 4, and St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines on Saturday, Oct. 10.
“I think it’s important that we made sure not only to have opportunities to recognize the longevity of Christian marriage and examples where it is being faithfully lived, but also that younger couples – those with one- and five-year anniversaries – have a chance to celebrate those milestones along the way,” said Justin White, diocesan director of the Marriage and Family Life Office.
In Council Bluffs, one couple marked their 70th wedding anniversary. In Des Moines, a couple was honored for 66 years of marriage.
As for the Timms, they met in high school and married in Minnesota, moved to Georgia, and then Iowa in 1991 for job reasons. They raised three children and saw Mary go back to school to become a nurse. There was a lot of juggling of responsibilities and places to be, and some lean times. They remember having to borrow money to pay a babysitter while Mary was in nursing school. But in retrospect, times were simpler back then.
“I’d do it all over again,” Doug said.
Rose and Steve Vonnahme, also of Ss. John and Paul Parish, were classmates when they started dating. This year, they celebrate 50 years of marriage.
They chuckled remembering that Steve got lost finding her house to pick her up for their first date to a basketball game. He was one block off.
How did he know she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with?
“We kind of have the same ideas, the same wants. We have the same passions,” he said.
“We went to look at rings. I put one on my finger and I didn’t take it back off,” she laughed.
They married at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll when there was no air conditioning. Box fans whirled to keep guests cool. They had a simple reception in Arcadia afterward, then bought a small, two-bedroom home as they began their family.
Reflecting on how they stayed together for 50 years, Rose said, “You always have to forgive each other.”
“Be willing to forgive and be willing to comprise,” Steve said.
Deacon Kevin and Rhonda Heim, of St. Augustin Parish in Des Moines, celebrated 53 years of marriage by taking one day at a time. They met in school and dated for five years before marrying at St. Mary Church in Lake City. After she graduated from Mercy College of Health Sciences, they settled in Des Moines.
How did they make their relationship work for 53 years?
“We talk things out. We forgive each other, because people don’t live together and not get upset with each other,” Rhonda said. “I’ve always said that you wake up in the morning and you decide, ‘I still love this guy. God put him in my life. We’re going to go for another day.’"
“Life isn’t roses and chocolates, though he sent me those,” she said. “But you don’t do that every day of the year. That was courting. This is living. You take the disappointments along with the celebrations and you pray, and you go to church and you live the life God gave you,” she said.
Bishop William Joensen said he was inspired by the vocational sacrificial self-offering of married couples, by their fidelity to one another and to God, by their openness to children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Couples married a long time know the kind of love that means they’re cared for and encouraged, forgiven, and at times corrected.
Thank you, he said, “for giving this sacramental marriage. May you know our affection and our appreciation, our blessing and prayers for you that whatever the humble circumstances, you continue to do all things in Christ who strengthens you.”