Jim and Anne Brooke have been happily married for more than 56 years now, and they both say that their “family is everything.” The couple will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary July 27.
Jim, originally from Buffalo, and Anne, originally from Kinston, Ala., met in Germany back in 1967. Jim was serving in the Army and Anne’s father was serving in the Army as well.
Jim served in the Army from July 5, 1966, to June 12, 1970, at which time he also earned his GED. Anne earned her high school diploma from Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany.
Anne was working at the American Youth Association, when the two met. The two love birds were united in marriage in Innsbruck, Austria, on July 27, 1968.
They returned to the states and were remarried on Nov. 3, 1968, to make it official in the United States. The two also renewed their vows for their 25th wedding anniversary and had a large 50th wedding anniversary celebration as well.
When asked who made the first move, Anne smiled and said that Jim did.
When asked what he liked about Anne, Jim said that she was a pretty good dancer.
“She can still shake a leg every now and then,” Jim said with a smile on his face.
When Anne was asked about Jim, she said, “He is just so loving and he gives all the time. He truly takes care of his family.”
The couple moved back to the United States in 1970 and lived in Fort Knox for a short period of time as well as Buffalo, before making their home in Teague in 1976, where they have lived the past 49 years.
The couple has two daughters, Julie and Jennifer. Julie is married to Jimmy Pickens ,and Jennifer is married to Kenneth Russell.
They have five grandchildren – Jaime Pickens (Kate), Jake Pickens (Megan), Matthew Brooke (Cheyenne), Courtney Harris (Austin), and Jessica Ritter (Brian). They also have 12 great grandchildren – David Pickens, Ben Pickens, John Pickens, Jeremiah Pickens, Jay Pickens, Jolene Pickens, Heston Brooke, Kaselynn Brooke, Maddie Russell, Hudson Harris, Brady Ritter and Buster Ritter.
“Our family is our world,” Anne said.
Jim pitched in and said, “She is right; our family means everything to us. There are only two people in my life that have been right and that is Jesus Christ and my wife.”
The couple agrees that love has kept them together.
“If we didn’t love each other, we couldn’t have made it over 50 years,” Anne said. “We have had our ups and downs like everyone, but we didn’t give up. Marriage takes work.”
Jim added that you should never take each other for granted. Life can change in a blink of an eye.
Jim worked for Brown and Root for 23 years and then Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) for 20 years before retiring as an engineer in February 2014.
Anne worked for more than 40 years in radiology. She worked for the Teague Hospital for about eight years and then Freestone Medical Center Hospital for 32 years before retiring as a Radiology manager in March 2014.
The couple said that they instilled in their children and grandchildren hard work and dedication. They say they are trying to teach their great-grandchildren the same as well.
“Nothing in life is free,” Anne said. “You have to work hard for it.”
Jim and Anne have enjoyed their retirement greatly. They love traveling and attending ballgames when their great-grandchildren play.
