'It's been a good life': Jerry and Tyke Bichsel celebrate 70 years of marriage
NEW PHILADELPHIA ? A great sense of humor has helped the marriage of Jerry and Sandra "Tyke" Bichsel of New Philadelphia endure for 70 years.
"We've had a lot of fun," said Tyke, 89.
Added Jerry, 88, said, "It was a good environment, running the business and running the farm. I was busy, and she said there were many times she didn't know if I was even living at home because of all the things going on." Jerry operated Goshen Dairy and a farm in Oldtown Valley for many years.
But he said, "It's been a good life. It's been a good marriage, it really has."
The couple was married on June 20, 1954, at the First Presbyterian Church of New Philadelphia. Recently, they celebrated their 70th anniversary at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake with close family members. They have seven children, 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two on the way.
High school sweethearts
Jerry and Tyke began dating when they were students at New Philadelphia High School. After graduation, Jerry went off to The Ohio State University in Columbus, but they continued to stay in contact.
More on local families: 'A huge responsibility:' Jim Shamel tries to set good example for his three children
They got engaged while Jerry was a freshman at OSU. He bought a ring at a jewelry store in Columbus and then traveled back to Tuscarawas County by train.
"I had that ring in my pocket," he said. "I said to her, what do you want to do tonight? She said, let's go to a movie. I thought, how am I going to work this? Where am I going to propose to her? I picked her up, and I thought, where am I going to park? I had that diamond ring in my pocket, and boy was it burning."
They went to see a film at the Quaker Theater in New Philadelphia. Jerry parked at the nearby Goshen Dairy plant at 139 Second St. NW.
"I parked behind the dairy," he continued. "Right behind the dairy was where the horse barn was and the stalls, and right behind there was a manure pit." At that time, the dairy delivered some of its milk by horse-drawn wagons.
"So, I parked right there. I thought, I've got to give her the ring before we go into the movie. So, I pulled out the thing and gave her the ring and proposed to her. I tell the story afterwards, the aroma from the farm and horse manure was just great at that time."
At the theater, "She sat there with my hand in her hand, and she kept looking at that ring the whole time."
Asked if the story was accurate, Tyke jokingly responded, "Unfortunately."
Working at Goshen Dairy
The wedding reception was a small affair, held in the basement of the Presbyterian church. They had a cake and Goshen Dairy ice cream supplied by Jerry's dad, William Bichsel, Sr. After the wedding, the couple returned to OSU.
"I was there for three years, and my father called me and said it's time to come home and go to work. So, I came and went to work at the dairy," he said. He worked in sales.
Jerry's grandparents, Ulrich and Mary Bichsel, were Swiss immigrants. Ulrich was a cheesemaker. They purchased a farm and cheese house in Oldtown Valley in 1906, where they raised their 14 children. In 1920, the family purchased the Blue Ribbon Dairy in New Philadelphia and started Goshen Dairy.
The business grew to have 14 retail stores around east central Ohio, including locations in New Philadelphia, Dover, Uhrichsville, Gnadenhutten and Sugarcreek. The company delivered milk by horse-drawn wagon until a fire at the plant in 1972. On March 13, 1972, a lightning strike caused a fire that damaged a portion of the dairy, as well as the horse barn. The horses were at the family farm in Oldtown Valley at the time.
Jerry and Tyke moved to the family's Oldtown Valley farm in 1973, where they raised their children. They moved to New Philadelphia eight years ago. A grandson lives on a portion of the farm now.
The Bichsels sold the dairy in 2002 to Smith Dairy Products Co. of Orrville, and Jerry retired.
Retirement
Since retirement, Jerry and Tyke have traveled extensively. They have been to every U.S. state except Hawaii, and they have been to Switzerland three times to visit relatives.
The biggest tragedy they have had to face was the death of their eldest son Hans of lung cancer at age 43. "That was a tough one," said Jerry.
During their 70th anniversary celebration, Jerry and Tyke renewed their vows, with their grandson, Father Ty Tomson, a Catholic priest, officiating.
"I asked him, does this have to keep on going?" Jerry said. This was the third time the couple exchanged vows. "I thought after you got married once, you're done. He said, for you, it's going to go on forever."
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Jerry and Tyke Bichsel mark 70 years of marriage
