'What a blessing' | Jeffersonville couple celebrates 75 years of marriage | Local News

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- A Jeffersonville World War II veteran and his beloved wife are celebrating 75 years of marriage this weekend.

Even in their 90s, Russ and Coleen Fischer still keep a busy social life.

They met in Texas shortly after Russ served in the Army Air Corps, now known as the Air Force.

"I knew she was the one," Russ said.

The couple married there in 1949. A few years later, they returned to Russ' hometown of Jeffersonville to raise their three kids.

While the couple, now 97 and 93, might move a little slower these days, 75 years of marriage went by fast.

"I never thought we'd have time to sit on the front porch like this," Coleen said.

In 1945, Russ was drafted right after graduation from Jeffersonville High School into the Army Air Corps.

"They said anybody that has a high school education, we're going to put in the Army Air Corps," Russ said. "I said 'yes that's great.'"

He was assigned to the B-29 bomber group as a corporal and helped supply the planes.

"Whatever the plane needed or whatever they needed, clothing, fly jackets, anything," Russ said.

World War II ended shortly after he was drafted. With a year-and-a-half of service, Russ turned down the option to re-enlist and relocated to Dallas.

Meanwhile in a small Texas town, 18-year-old Coleen was moving out of her parent's home to the big city.

"I told Mother and Daddy when I went to Dallas that I wouldn't drink or smoke but I was going to go dance," Coleen said.

Before long, a mutual friend set up Russ and Coleen on a blind date. And in 1949, it was truly a blind leap of faith.

"I said 'well how will I know her, he said she's going to have red shoes on,'" Russ said. "So I met her on the corner, it worked out pretty good."

Coleen was wearing those red high heels when they met.

A few months later, she swapped out those red shoes for white shoes for their wedding.

"I had to work on my wedding day, got off at five o'clock and got to the church in time to get married," Coleen said. "We had our honeymoon on Saturday and Sunday and went back to work on Monday."

"It was hard times, so we had to celebrate later," Russ said.

They still cherish the small details from July 29, 1949.

"We had punch with ice cream in it, so that was a big deal for me," Coleen said.

Russ worked for the United States Postal Service for more than two decades while Coleen spent most of her professional career working with Veterans Benefits. Coleen's biggest passion was helping homeless people, she even gave people a place to stay in their home to encourage a transition off the streets.

Now 75 years later, they're back in Jeffersonville. Their children are now retired and they're great grandparents.

"I just think what a blessing," Coleen said. "God is so good to me."

The couple went through several health scares over the years like prostate cancer and heart surgery.

After long careers, they have packed their retirement with activities.

"The golden years have really turned out to be golden years for me," Coleen said.

They still make it to poker and water Pilates every week. Coleen is even an instructor for the class.

"I just love doing it and I love the people that I instruct and I feel like they love me, they make me feel like they do," Coleen said.

They still enjoy some friendships and some dark humor along the way.

"We had to make young friends because all of my friends died," Coleen said.

Their biggest piece of advice for a long marriage? Respect your partner.

"You know, I love him. But I think that respect is the thing that's really pulled us through," Coleen said.

"You know, that's the main thing. Respect each other," Russ echoed. "And there's all kinds of problems in life and marriage and you need to work the problems out together and need to work that problem out instead of just carrying on and letting them build up."

Related Stories: