The Stakers - 1943 and 2018

Roland Henry Staker and Lois Lorraine Schelker were married on July 11, 1943, in Rhodes, IA. Roland entered the US Navy on December 31, 1943 and eventually was stationed in the Northern Mariana Islands on Saipan during WWII.

Lorraine along with other ladies traveled daily from Rhodes to Des Moines working in the Armory making ammunition for our fighting men and women.

They later farmed in rural Montour and Toledo. In 1961 they moved to Toledo with Roland working for the then Farm Bureau Service Co. (FS today) where he eventually retired. Thereafter. he became the area “Handyman” (known by his grand and greatgrandchildren as “Grandpa McGiver”). Lorraine worked for the Tama State Bank and Twin Cities Insurance before retiring.

In 1962 Roland designed & built the areas first ever-challenging and popular “Family Tee Miniature Golf Course” with the ‘Chipmunks’ as hole #19. Lorraine was a talented seamstress and eqioyed quilting. Her later quilting remnants were used to make 17 quilts which were donated to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

The couple has three sons: Gene (Sue) in West Des Moines, IA; Daryl (Kathy) in Tama, IA, Randy (Barb) in Cocoa Beach, FL. They have 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 4 great great-grandchildren.

Currently the couple reside at Sunny Hill Care Center, Tama, IA. If you would like to wish Roland and Lorraine congratulations on their 75th Anniversary, please mail their cards to: Daryl Staker, 302 W. 16th St., Tama, IA 52339.