After spending 73 years apart, high school sweethearts Bill Hassinger, 91, and Joanne Blakkan, 93, recently rekindled their romance and got engaged. The couple first met on a school bus in the 1940s in Muskegon, Michigan, and dated in high school, but life took them in different directions. Blakkan went to Michigan State University, while Hassinger later served in the Korean War. Both eventually married and had children with other people.
In 2022, Blakkan’s daughter helped her look up former classmates online, leading her to reach out to Hassinger. After reconnecting, he made an 80-mile drive for a lunch date, and they quickly rediscovered their connection. Since then, the couple has been inseparable, spending nearly every day together. They enjoy simple activities like walks and puzzles, as well as traveling.
Aware of the uncertainty of time, Hassinger and Blakkan are focused on cherishing every moment, but say they’re in no hurry to get married. They’re grateful to still be healthy and able to enjoy themselves and plan to marry at some point in a small and intimate ceremony.
Source: PEOPLE
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