A special bond
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By Shirley Davis | Monday, October 02, 2006 |
Nick Loomis/QUAD-CITY TIMES Donald J. Moeller and Jerri Leinen, both of Davenport, work in their garden prior to leaving for Rome, Italy, to be married later this week.
Donald J. Moeller of Davenport really knows his way around Rome, Italy. He studied there for seven years and was ordained as a priest at the Cathedral of Rome in 1957.
Jerri Leinen, Davenport, president and CEO of CASI (the Center for Active Seniors Inc. in Davenport) and a former nun, had never been to Europe.
So, Rome seemed to be the perfect location when Don and Jerri decided to get married. The ceremony will take place this Thursday at Santa Susanna, the official American Church of Rome since the 19th century.
Theirs is a unique story.
Jerri had given up her calling as a nun after a dozen years as a member of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary when she married a former priest, Jerry Leinen. He died in 1994 after 18 years of marriage.
Donald left the priesthood after a dozen years as a priest “with the permission of the pope” to get married in 1969. He and his wife had been married for 35 years when she died.
“When I got my honorary doctorate in 1995, Don’s wife spent the whole day showing our family around – during the mass, the dinner and the graduation,” remembers Jerri. After that, Moeller would call her “doctor” when he ran into her at various functions. For 29 years Moeller was the first non-priest to be the academic vice president and provost at St. Ambrose, and in that position he read the presentation when Jerri got her doctorate.
“We met again four years ago at a memorial service at CASI for people who have died during the course of the year, and I had just lost my wife,” Moeller remembers.
“It’s devastating to lose a spouse,” Moeller says. “Jerri and I had a lot in common; we have the same values.” Then, at this year’s Blarney Bash, a CASI fund-raiser, Moeller showed up in tux and a green boutonniere to escort Jerri to the ball.
“She is 100 percent Irish, and I’m 100 percent non-Irish,” Moeller laughs. “I brought along a bottle of asti spemoni and some truffles when I picked her up and got down on my knee to propose.”
“He didn’t want to waste all his gorgeousness with those fancy clothes, so he asked me to marry him that night,” Jerri laughs, and she wore the engagement ring to the party.
When they arrived at St. Ambrose College, then-mayor Charlie Brook called out in the crowd, “Ask Jerri what she got tonight.” Their secret was out.
“The problems started arising the next day,” Moeller says. “I met at least 100 people who expected to be in the wedding party. Not just at the wedding, but in the wedding party. Jerri named 12 she wanted as maid of honor. So, I told Jerri, ‘We may have to go to Rome.’ It’s our religious heritage, and this was to be our commitment to each other.” So, Rome it would be.
Because it would be Jerri’s first trip to Italy, the couple decided on an Italian honeymoon – to Florence, Assisi and finally Venice, where they’ll take a gondola ride through the canals, of course.
Attending the couple at their wedding will be Moeller’s daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Blake Argo of Cincinnati and friends Dr. Ken and Lois Keppy, Davenport. Keppy, a veterinarian, had served as chairman of the board at CASI.
An old friend Kay Runge, former library director in Davenport and Des Moines, will also be in Rome for the service.
Moeller’s other daughter and her husband are Kristi and Phil Moeller-Francis of Davenport, and the bridegroom says he serves as “soccer mom” to the couple’s three children.
When the couple returns from Italy, they plan to be honored at an open house for the public at CASI from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. “No wedding presents,” say the Moellers. In lieu of gifts they suggest a donation to CASI’s Endowment Fund.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the joy of other people who are happy for our marriage,” Jerri says.
The couple will live in Jerri’s home in Davenport; her wedding gift to her new husband will be the addition of an extra garage.
As they began making plans for their marriage, the couple continued to work out together at the CASI fitness center three times a week. They are both involved in CASI’s Life Option Center and working with St. Ambrose College to offer seniors a chance to re-tool for employment or to plan enjoyable retirement options.
Jerri says, “Statistics prove that people have a healthier quality of life after retirement if they have the opportunity to do something they always wanted to do.
“Do you know that 85 percent of employees in this country are unhappy with their jobs?” asks Jerri. “We’re hoping we can help to get the classes they need to go on to a better quality of life as a volunteer or to find possible employment.”
Shirley Davis can be contacted at (563) 383-2281 or sdavis@qctimes.com.
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