Celebrating 70 years of marriage

Morgan and Eleanor Huglen, of Iola, recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 17, 1942, in San Diego, Calif.

They both grew up in the area. Eleanor (Wrolstad) was born and raised in Peru, Wis, in the town of New Hope.

Morgan spent his early childhood in the Northland/Norske area. He moved to Appleton with his mother after his father passed away. Still having family in the area, he returned often to visit, hunt and fish.

He was told of a "cute girl" that was visiting a mutual friend's house, and made a bee line there without haste. The rest, well, kind of took its natural course.

They had intended on a wedding in Wisconsin, but after the Japanese bombed Peal Harbor, Morgan was drafted. Like so many of that generation, lives and plans changed forever.

After the wedding, Morgan shipped out to the Philippine Islands to participate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Fortunately, he returned from the war about a year later.

The Huglens moved to Rhinelander for the next 40 years, where they began their family and Morgan worked for Cleary's Dairy. After retirement in 1989, they moved to Iola.

The Huglens have five children: Diane Marquardt of Iola; Michael (Donna) Huglen of Tucson, Ariz.; Mark (Gayle) Huglen of Iola; Steven (Rita) Huglen of Norway, Mich.; and Cynthia (Phil) Dellegrazio of Grafton, Wis.

They have 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.