Vintage Hills at Prairie Trail in Ankeny Residents Share Tips on Lasting Love this Valentine’s Day

There are eight couples that call Vintage Hills at Prairie Trail home, many of whom have celebrated more than 50 years of marriage.

On this Valentine’s Day, the couples have decided to share their tips for lasting love.

The couple with a fitting last name, Lorraine and Bob Love, have enjoyed 66 years of marriage. Lorraine shares that their secret is to compromise. “Compromise – it’s a very important word – it takes a lot of patience,” notes Lorraine.

Retired Iowa State University basketball coach Johnny Orr and his wife, Romie Orr, have been married for nearly 64 years and they share that, “You’ve just got to love each other” and “Don’t worry about how many years it’s been, just stay happy.”

With 60 years under their belt, Pete and Mary Jeffries say that couples must “take each day as it comes.”

Bob Henderson and Rita Oline, who have been dating for the past six years, note that “you just know” when you’re in love and to “just keep going” day-by-day to make love last for many, many years.

Bonnie and Galen Freel make sure that family stays at the center of their lives by mentioning, “love is a very important word, not just for couples, but for families.”

One couple, Harold and Mavis Dowden, met while Harold was between overseas trips serving in the US Air Force and began their relationship by corresponding while he was gone. For the Dowden’s, their tip for lasting love was to stay active as they “loved dancing” when they were together.

The best piece of advice may come from Randy Wisecup who has been married for 40 years. He suggests saying, “yes, dear” for years and years of lasting love.

The couples living at Vintage Hills at Prairie Trail stay active by participating in planned activities and community-wide events.