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as told by Dallas Doss and Jan Ott
DALLAS: I had some heart problems back in February of 2004. As part of my treatment, my doctor had me go to Movin’ and Improvin’, Gundersen Lutheran’s cardiac rehab program.
 I’ve been going twice a week for about two and a half years. I’d see a lot of familiar faces week after week, and developed an acquaintance with some of my fellow participants. One in particular caught my interest. Jan had been in the program about as long as I had and we would say hello and chat briefly when we saw each other.
I thought it might be nice to ask her out, but I was a bit out of practice. I’m 82 years old and was married for many years before I lost my wife six years earlier. One day, in July 2006, we both arrived early. Nobody else was there, so I finally asked her out to lunch.
JAN: I started going to Movin’ and Improvin’ after my heart attack in 2004. It was hard not to notice Dallas, he’s a tall, nice-looking man. We would say hello to each other, but for about a year and a half we had only a passing acquaintance. But last July, that changed. Dallas asked me out. I think God had a hand in this because just two days earlier I had thought to myself, “I’d go out with Dallas if he asked me.”
DALLAS: By about the third date, we knew it was more than friendship. A short time later I said to her, “I’m not getting on my knees, but will you marry me?” Even though we had only been dating a few weeks, I wasn’t wasting any time. At our age, we don’t even buy green bananas.
JAN: Yes, it’s been a whirlwind courtship, but we both knew it was right. Our next hurdle was convincing our children—I have seven and Dallas has two—that we were serious. Two of my children were especially concerned, but after they met Dallas, one daughter told me, “Mother, you’re not good enough for him.” He just had to be himself and easily won them over.
I love him dearly. We laugh a lot together and that has to be good for our hearts.
We got married on Nov. 18, which was also my 83rd birthday. I couldn’t have asked for a better present.
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