50 Years Later, They’re Still Laughing

In Greeley, Iowa, a love story that began with a wink has turned into five decades of marriage, family, and something that can’t be faked—genuine joy in each other’s company.

It Started with a Wink

Back in 1974, Lonnie Fry and Judy Marx were both working at a toy company when they first noticed each other.

“He winked at me first,” Judy recalls.

A few months later came their first kiss—and for Judy, that was it. She knew.

The two were married on Valentine’s Day in 1976, surrounded by hundreds of friends and family. Like many Midwest weddings, it came with a twist—an ice storm rolled in, stranding guests and adding an unexpected chapter to their story.

Building a Life Together

From early days in a fixer-upper home to raising four children, their life wasn’t built on perfection—it was built on showing up.

Lonnie worked decades maintaining roads across Delaware County, while Judy balanced raising a family with a career that ranged from manufacturing to office work. Their days were full, their responsibilities real, and their time together often simple—family dinners, camping trips, long conversations.

Over time, that life grew into something bigger: 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a home that still draws everyone back.

Not Perfect—But Real

Ask them the secret to 50 years, and you won’t hear anything polished.

They argue.

“I think it’s healthy,” Judy says. “People don’t know how to kiss and make up nowadays.”

It’s that honesty—paired with humor—that has carried them through. Lonnie still teases. Judy still laughs. And somewhere in that back-and-forth, they’ve built something lasting.

The Little Things That Last

There’s a sign in their bedroom: “Always kiss me goodnight.”

It’s simple. But so is most of what’s kept them together.

Not grand gestures. Not perfection. Just a steady rhythm of showing up, sticking it out, and finding ways—every single day—to keep each other smiling.

Because after 50 years, the story isn’t just that they stayed together.

It’s that they still like each other.