Photo by Deb Gau Jack and Terry Hennen hold a sign made for them after being named Lyon County’s Outstanding Senior Citizens at the Lyon County Fair on Saturday. Community members nominating the Hennens talked about the couple’s joy and good humor.

MARSHALL — While Jack and Terry Hennen believe in giving back to their community, they also understand the power of joy, Jaen Weilage said.

“These two have made the most of the time they’ve been given,” Weilage said, as she introduced the couple during the Senior Citizens’ Day program at the Lyon County Fair on Saturday.

“There’s so many ways they are outstanding,” she said.

The Hennens were named Lyon County’s Outstanding Senior Citizens. The annual award grew out of the Minnesota State Fair’s Outstanding Senior Citizen recognition program, Weilage said. Honorees are nominated by Lyon County residents.

The Hennens have stayed active in the community throughout their lives, Weilage said.

“Jack and Terry are a dynamic duo,” she said, reading from one of the nomination letters for the Hennens.

Jack was part of the Minneota Rotary and the Cattlemen’s Association, and he’s volunteered as a Salvation Army bell-ringer, and visited residents at area nursing homes and hospice houses.

Weilage said Terry Hennen is also an active volunteer, working at the Avera Marshall Auxiliary Thrift Store, sewing quilts and baking pies for the Holy Redeemer fair stand. Both the Hennens are active at the Adult Community Center in Marshall, she said.

In addition to volunteering, the Hennens have joyful personalities, and are supportive of others.

“They’re people people,” Weilage said. A lot of the stories told at Saturday’s program were about Jack’s sense of humor.

“Is there anyone who could tell a better joke than Jack Hennen?” Weilage asked.

Humor has always been part of Jack’s life. He told the audience the story of how he and Terry first met at the Blue Moon Ballroom in Marshall.

“I decided I wanted to make that girl laugh every day of her life. And it happened,” he said.

As part of the award program, the crowd gave the Hennens a “Salute!” in the style of the “Hee Haw” TV show.

The Hennens thanked community members for the recognition.

“We just love being who we are,” Terry Hennen said.