Fish Fry Dinner Leads to Love

February 22, 2023

So, what’s going on Friday night in Council Bluffs, Kori Gruber asked her friend, Tony Jordan. 

“Fish fry,” he said.

He invited her to come over from Omaha for one. She thought it was a dinner out. 

But he put her to work helping to serve and clean at the parish event.

And that’s how Kori and Tony Jordan began dating – by volunteering at a Lenten fish fry dinner at Corpus Christi Parish, Queen of Apostles site, in Council Bluffs.

“The Knights of Columbus really made us,” Tony said. “We were just friends until she came up to work with me at the fish fry. That’s what did it. It brought us together.”

Their dates included spaghetti meals or chicken dinners served at St. Peter, Our Lady of Carter Lake, St. Patrick and Corpus Christi Parishes. 

Tony studied genetics in college, left Iowa to work for an oil company, and eventually returned to Council Bluffs.

Kori went to Holy Cross Catholic preschool in Omaha, Omaha Christian Academy for kindergarten, Good Shepherd Lutheran grade school and Mercy High School in Omaha. Growing up, she had trouble with clique-type issues.

“Getting involved in the Knights made a difference. I felt like I belonged,” she said. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but you know, now we’re at St. Pat’s. Father James (Ahenkora) and Father Max (Carson) are phenomenal. Father Jacob (Epstein, at Corpus Christi Parish), as well. If it wasn’t for those three priests, I don’t think we’d be sitting here. They’ve been an influential part of our relationship and our marriage.”

Kori became Catholic and she and Tony married last June 25. Instead of wedding gifts, they asked for food donations for Micah House. They brought 2,000 pounds of food to the shelter, Tony said.

They both work at Amelia Place and their hobby is volunteering.

“That’s the basis of our entire marriage and dating life,” Tony said. “We spent all of our time doing volunteer work together and Knights of Columbus work together. That’s what’s been very, very easy about our marriage: It’s work, church and kids.”

“And we love it!” she said.