Bob and Jan Van Iten

Bob Van Iten (C'59) and Jan Brown (Ex'61) met in September 1957 at the University of Dubuque when Bob was a junior and Jan was a first-year student. Bob studied business administration and economics. He was very involved on campus including the Phi-O fraternity and student senate, where he was elected the class president his senior year. Jan studied teacher education and was a member of the Zeta Phi sorority. Bob recalled coming to UD because his older brother, Dik Van Iten (C'57), was a current student and enjoying his time at UD. Jan first visited UD with the minister from her hometown church, Dale (C'50) and his spouse, Virginia (Ex'52) Tutje, who also attended UD and thought it would be a good fit for her.

The pair met for their very first time on Jan's first day on campus. She had just received her orientation papers and was sitting on a bench in the Quad when Bob walked past. Bob recalled being pretty impressed with Jan and her beautiful black hair. So, he decided to stop and ask her if she needed any help, to which she said: No.

"She sent me on my way," Bob laughed.

Fate would intervene a few weeks later when there was Sunday afternoon co-ed basketball game that both Bob and Jan were playing in. Afterwards, a group of friends went to Eagle Point Park to hang out. They stopped for pizza, then Bob walked Jan back to her dorm room. Just a few days later, Bob called Jan to go on a study date. They had a few study dates before they went on an "official" date. On a snowy afternoon, the pair took the bus downtown, saw a movie, and had hamburgers at Karigan's Restaurant. On their way home, the bus tried to drive down a narrow road but could not because of the cars parked on either side of the street. The bus driver got off the bus, looking for someone to move the car. As a shock to Bob and Jan, the driver forgot to put the parking brake on and the bus started rolling forward. Bob quickly ran to the driver's seat and put the parking brake on. Needless to say, it was a very memorable first date.

As a Phi-O, there was a tradition of serenading your partner as a sign that you were official with them. It was May 1958. Jan remembers being in her dorm room in Severance Hall when she noticed Bob's fraternity brothers singing from the lawn.

"I was climbing up the fire escape while they were serenading Jan outside the dorm," Bob said. "My responsibility was to get up to the balcony to give her a rose and my pin. But the problem was, when I got up there, the distance between the ladder and the ledge was more than I thought I could handle, but, somehow, I made it over and she got her rose and pin. She was worth the leap!"

Jan added, "I still have his pin; I put on a charm bracelet."

Just a few short weeks later, school ended, Bob graduated, and Jan moved back to her hometown, Chenoa, Illinois, and Bob moved to Waukegan, Illinois. Bob decided to visit Jan for a weekend, and he proposed to her. Bob assured her that he asked for Jan's parent's permission before this.

"They had their serious doubts," Bob joked.

Jan chuckled, "My parents loved him!"

After a year-long engagement, the pair tied the knot on August 29, 1959. They wed at First Presbyterian Church in Chenoa, Illinois, by Dale Tutje. Standing beside them on their wedding day were some UD friends: Dik Van Iten (C'57), Tom Irvine (C'59), Dick Higashi (C'59), Bruce Sayers (C'61), and Sue (Osten) Sayers (C'61). Following the ceremony, they celebrated during a reception in the basement of the church with punch, peanuts, and cake.

The newlyweds went to Waukegan, Illinois, where they got an apartment together. Bob worked for Interstate Finance Corporation in Waukegan and Jan worked in the business office at Bell Telephone Company. They moved a few more times, following Bob's career, until June 1962 when they settled in Naperville, Illinois, where Bob ultimately bought a car dealership. During those moves, the pair welcomed their first child, Mike, in 1961. Their family continued to grow as they welcomed their first daughter, Cindy, in 1963, and their second daughter, Liz, in 1970.

The couple has always been involved in their community and church. While in Naperville, Bob served on the building committee for Knox Presbyterian Church, and they both served on the session as elders and taught Sunday School. Jan was also the volunteer director for Edward Hospital for about 20 years, while also on the PTA and the YMCA board.

Over the years, the couple enjoyed a lot of traveling and have seen many parts of the world including Europe, South Pacific, Australia, Iceland, Norway, and the Caribbean.

Currently, Jan and Bob split their time between Longboat Key, Florida, and Naperville, Illinois. Ironically enough, when they moved to Longboat Key in 1993, the community was in the early stages of establishing a new church. They are founding members of the new Presbyterian church, Christ Church of Longboat Key. They continue to stay active with the church and enjoy golfing together. Jan plays mahjong and Bob enjoys spending time gardening.

The Van Itens have 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Their family is scattered all over the country from New Hampshire to Arizona. For many years, Bob and Jan would host a family reunion for over 100 people in Naperville every third year. The whole family looked forward to the event and enjoyed spending time each other.

Bob and Jan will be celebrating 65 years of marriage this year!