Michigan High School Sweethearts Reconnect after 73 years
This is our new favorite story – and it’s based right here in Michigan. The story of Bill Hassinger and Joanne Blakkan from Muskegon. Michigan High School Sweethearts who reconnect after 73 years.
The Story about Michigan High School Sweethearts Reconnect after 73 years
Bill and Linda met on the school bus in Muskegon back in the 1940’s – they still joke about who made the first move. “She picked up the bus first, and I’d find her on the bus, so I guess that was me,” Hassinger smiled and admitted.
They dated in High School (North Muskegon) and even went to Senior Prom…but after high school she went Michigan State while he stayed in school (two years younger) – then they went their own way like many couple do after high school.
How Did They Find Each Other?
After High School Bill got married, three month later he was drafted into the Korean War – then came home to join the Michigan State Police and raise a family. Joanne also got married and had three children while working in the medical field. For SEVENTY THREE years their paths never crossed, until 2022 when these Michigan sweethearts reconnect after 73 years.
Joanne’s daughter Linda was helping her do some research on the computer to connect with former classmates that she’d lost track of, and came across Bill’s name. They researched it a bit further and and saw his wife had passed away the year before…she reached out Bill (after realizing he lived about 80 miles north in Manistee) and now they’re connected spending time together on weekends.
Linda Blakken and her high school sweetheart reunite after 73 years
True Love After Michigan High School Sweethearts Reconnect after 73 years?
“We just really went back to where we were in high school as far as feelings go,” Blakkan said. Spending weekends together and playing “A lot of cards — cribbage, gin, and we work puzzles. We walk every other day, and she does her exercises, and we go out to dinner maybe once a week, and the rest of the time, just enjoy each other’s company,” Hassinger said.
What a great story here in Michigan. True love after all those years.
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