'Love at first sight' for native Iowan

Bruce Nelson was born in Cherokee, Iowa, and grew up on a farm near Meriden. He went on to Trinity College, and has spent his life in education -- from teaching missionary children in Ivory Coast and inner-city children in Chicago to being a school librarian in the Chicago area.

In 1982, he met Axel Kunzmann, a German-born radiologist who attended Princeton and Northwestern.

"It was truly love at first site," Bruce says. The couple has been together ever since.

And in November, Bruce returned to Iowa with the love of his life to get married at the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near Dubuque.

They started their wedding day in true Iowa style: viewing the works of Grant Wood, on loan to the Dubuque Museum of Art.

The couple visits Dubuque often, most years riding in the annual TOMRV bike ride between Dubuque and the Quad Cities. Because they find the town so supportive, Bruce says it was a natural place to have their wedding.

"We are now both retired and enjoying the extra time together which that makes possible."