JoAnne and Bud Krause of East Troy have been married for 55 years.
"When he smarts off I treat him like Jesus treated the apostles. I invite him to his last supper..ha..ha..I keep re-inviting him though," Joanne laughs.
92-year-old Bud served in Iwo Jima. He was member of the ground crew for a unit that flew P51 Mustangs.
"We were totally involved in a war we knew nothing about. I'd hate to see us go back to war again" the World War II Veteran shares.
Bud and JoAnne are proud supporters of veterans. They are donating 6-footot antique saw to a VFW fundraiser. The 2-man saw was painted by Joanne, an award winning artist. It's filled with a tranquil Wisconsin scene that includes a nearby pond and deer.
The Krause's share that their secret to a long marriage is communication. Praying together at bedtime has helped Bud deal with health problems.
"I didn't have much left and I felt I needed her and I needed help. It's taken a lot of the pressure off." Bud explains.
"He'll say help JoAnne, not be grouchy this morning, God. I can't say anything cause he's not talking to me, he's talking to God," she laughs.
Laughter rules the household.
"People ask how long you've been married, I say 55 he says 76. He says it feels like it. I don't know what he means by that, I don't want to ask..ha..ha," JoAnne said.
And on this Veterans Day, both reflect on our future, hoping we can one day discover a world without war.
"The next time it will probably be more than just the guys in the service paying the price." Bud warns.
"One of my favorite songs is let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me," she said.
You can bid on JoAnne's saw by showing up to a chili cook-off competition on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Lindey's on Beulah from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Money raised will support VFW Post 7501 which gives scholarships to students. For more information call 262-642-9617.
