BILL GAITHER/The Register-Mail

Joann, left, and Terry Harpman are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend, making Joann the fourth consecutive generation of her family to reach that milestone. The Harpmans say laughter is the key to a long, happy marriage.

Laughter key to family's longlasting marriages

4 generations have reached 50th anniversaries

Saturday, August 4, 2007

By JANE CARLSON

The Register-Mail

She and her husband, Terry, of Galesburg, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend, making Joann the fourth consecutive generation of her family to reach a milestone most couples never experience due to death or divorce.

According to a U.S. Census bureau study released in 2002 based on statistics from the 1990s, 52 percent of couples who were married at the time had reached at least their 15th anniversary, but only 5 percent of married couples had reached at least their 50th anniversary.

Joann's parents were married 63 years, her grandparents were married 54 years and her great-grandparents were married 57 years.

Good health contributed to the longevity of the unions, but Joann says she learned another secret to a long and happy marriage from the personalities of her parents and grandparents.

"You have to make each other laugh and to be able to laugh at yourself," Joann said. "We still laugh all the time."

The Harpmans were married in a simple ceremony Aug. 3, 1957, in First Church of God, a year after they were introduced by Terry's cousin and had their first date at the drive-in movie theater on West Main Street. She was 19 and he was 20.

Four years later, in 1961, Joann's grandparents, Ira and Mary Roate, celebrated their golden anniversary with an open house in Galesburg.

Terry was in the service at the time, but Joann attended the open house and recalls family members taking pride in the fact that the Roates were the second generation in a row to reach their golden anniversary, following Mary's parents, Henry and Nora Baehr, who celebrated theirs in 1940.

At the Roate open house, friends and family signed a guest book that was passed down to Joann's parents, Bernice and Marion Goedeke, when they celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1987.

At that time, the Harpmans already were looking ahead to their 50th anniversary, hoping to continue the tradition.

"It's always been a goal. We've always talked about it and wanted to be like the rest of my family," Joann said.

This weekend, they'll use the same guest book her parents and grandparents used for their golden anniversaries at an open house hosted by their daughter, Teri Godsil of Galesburg, who is 20 years into her marriage - and hopes to continue the tradition of meeting the 50-year mark.

Now that they've made it to their 50th anniversary, the Harpmans don't have a another milestone anniversary they are looking forward to, but they have another goal in mind.

"Hopefully we'll be able to go to our grandchildren's weddings together," Joann said.

Four Generations of Golden Anniversaries

<0xE0E4> Terry and Joann Goedeke Harpman, married Aug. 3, 1957, in Galesburg - 50 years

<0xE0E4> Marion and Baehr Goedeke, married Dec. 21, 1937, in Galesburg - 63 years

<0xE0E4> Ira and Mary Baehr Roate, married May 31, 1911, in Beardstown - 54 years

<0xE0E4> Henry and Nora Dunmire Baehr, married Oct. 22, 1890 - 57 years