Alice and Jim Winzer of Augusta, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, June 19.
After serving in the military during World War II, Jim Winzer was happy to be back home in Kansas. He planned to spend time with his family and devote himself to farming. Every young man needs a mentor and Lester Markley filled that role for Jim. Long evenings spend discussing religion, farming and politics led Jim to make some changes in his life. He accepted God’s forgiveness, began serving in church and began to consider what God’s plan was for him. And his evening visits to the Markley home took on new significance as their discussions began to include missions and the Bible.
Alice Markley was just a girl, but she had avidly observed this handsome young man. He wasn’t just her big brother’s friend any more. She liked his shiny black hair, the ways his eyes crinkled when he laughed, and his dedication to God. When Jim announced one evening that he was being led to the mission field, she soberly announced that wherever he was going, she was going, too. Jim made a hasty and flustered exit that night. He returned the next day to explain to Alice that if she was coming, then he supposed they needed to get married.
And so, they got married.
On June 19, 1959 the couple were married at Cumberland Community Church.
The couple were on staff with the Open Door Missions in Jackson, Miss. when God surprised them with a beautiful little boy, Mark. God continued to bless them with additions to their family in the next 10 years. Rebecca and Tom were born next, James and Paul were born while the family served with Berean Missions in Granada, West Indies. When the family returned to Kansas, Janean and Mary were born.
Upon their return to Kansas, the family lived in a country house near Douglass. Jim worked at Coleman and Alice kept busy sewing and gardening. The couple continued their dedication to the Lord and served at Cumberland Community Church. Jim eventually went to work at Beech Aircraft and Alice entered the work force as a teacher at a small Christian school and then later at Prairie State Bank. Even as they reached retirement, they maintained an impressive garden and Alice continued sewing for the children and grandkids. As the children left home to start their own families, Alice could indulge her passion for sewing quilts, baby blankets and wall hangings. Jim continued as an elder at Cumberland Church and began ministering to the elder members of the church through visitation.
The family has multiplied. The seven children have added 40 grandchildren to the family. Jim and Alice’s greatest joy is their confidence that each of their children are saved and desire to serve God in their own families.
When asked what to attribute the happiness of their marriage, Alice explained, “God has to be the focus. There has to be plenty of prayer to make it work.” Jim chimed in, “And kisses. Lots of kisses.”
