Wedding Vows

“Do you take this person to be your wedded spouse to live together in marriage?

Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep them for better or worse,

for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others,

until death do you part?"

Although these vows are not used that often today, they used to be the “standard” for all weddings.  With celebrity marriages lasting hours, days and months, there are some that take that vow seriously, until death do them part.  (And yes, others who are still fighting for the right to have the ability to marry the one they love.)

The Yeager family describes their mother and father as being “old-fashioned.”  “They believed in marriage, till death do you part," said son Dennis Yeager.  "Staying together for 72 years is good. I'd say that's exceptional," said daughter Donna Sheets.

"Anybody come over -- she was the hostess with the mostess. She just seriously -- the more she did -- the more she smiled," said Dennis Yeager. "Dad would be the center of attention, like, 'Weee look at me,' and mom was like 'get him away from me!' You know we even got a picture like that."

Norma didn't really want the distance, and family said she hardly left Gordon's side for 72 years.   "They just loved being together. Everybody argues once in awhile, but they still, he said 'I have to stick around. I can't go until she does because I have to stay here for her and she would say the same thing,'" said Dennis Yeager.

Dennis Yeager said the couple left home last Wednesday to go into town, but they didn't make it. The couple pulled in front of an oncoming car. The Iowa State Patrol crash report said the other driver attempted to avoid the crash but was unable to stop in time. "I rushed from Des Moines where I was working and saw them in the hospital," said Dennis Yeager.

In the intensive care unit of Marshalltown's hospital, nurses knew not to separate Gordon and Norma.  "They brought them in the same room in intensive care and put them together, and they were holding hands in ICU. They were not really responsive," said Dennis Yeager.   

Gordon died at 3:38 p.m., holding hands with his wife as the family they built surrounded them.  "It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them. Her heart was beating through him and picking it up."

"They were still getting her heartbeat through him," said Donna Sheets.  At 4:48 p.m., one hour after Gordon died, Norma passed too.  "Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other. I couldn't figure out how it was going to work," said Donna Sheets. "We were very blessed, honestly, that they went this way."  "They just loved being together," said Dennis Yeager.

For this couple, the vows they took at their wedding where more than just nice words to be read aloud.  The Yeager’s lived a life of love and had a love for life.  They shared that through their family, friends and love for one another.  May they rest in peace and enjoy eternal love with one another.   

 We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves.  One day.  One journey.  One person.  One vow at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as Interfaith Chaplain.  He has studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling.  He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, and pastoral care in the Nebraska and Iowa area.

Inclusive Life offers both nondenominational and nonreligious care-serving all, without exception!  Inclusive Life offers Wedding Ministers, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funeral Ministers, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care.

INCLUSIVE LIFE   (402) 575-7006   info@inclusivelife.org

In Omaha at 105 S. 49^th Street, Omaha, NE 68132

In Council Bluffs at 500 Willow Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503