Over 70 years have passed since Bill Hassinger and Joanne Blakkan first met. The two were still students in the same Michigan high school in the 1940s. Joanne was two years older than Bill, had a car, and was a majorette — and he was smitten. These high school sweethearts were as thick as thieves, even getting sent to the principals office once for kissing on the bus.
Even though they were close, when Joanne graduated ahead of Bill, everything was different. While he was still in high school, she left for college at Michigan State. The pair split and went on to live separate lives, each getting married and having their own children. Both of them thought they’d never cross paths again.
It appears, though, that fate had other plans. In 2021, Joanne, who is currently 92 years old, set out with her daughter Linda to locate former classmates in preparation for their 73rd reunion. During their search, Linda asked about her mom’s high school boyfriend.
They discovered after doing some quick research that Bill, who is 90 years old, lives roughly 80 miles away. They also learned that his wife had died the year before. Joanne understands all too well the pain of losing a spouse — she lost her husband in 1989 and hadn’t remarried since.
Thinking it’d be fun to catch up, Joanne wrote him a letter. They met for lunch and, just like that, their feelings for each other came back like they had never even left.
High School Sweethearts Reconnect After Decades
“I had lived alone all this time, and I certainly wasn’t looking for love or a man,” Joanne says. “I was content. But he was always in the back of my mind. I loved that young boy.”
These days, this adorable couple makes it a point to spend each weekend together. You’ll often find them playing games (cribbage, gin, puzzles), cuddling, and walking. It doesn’t really matter what they do, though, as long as they’re together.
“Walking is just a medium to get from one place to another and I don’t necessarily have to walk every day to remember how to do it,” Bill explains. “But I walk because she likes to do it and I like being with her.”
This adorable couple has become quite popular where they live, earning themselves free lunches from strangers “because they think we are cute,” as Joanne says.
Now that they’re back together, Bill and Joanne are thinking of what their future will look like, whether that be moving into a house together or a retirement home. Either way, you’re sure to find them together, thick as thieves once more.
“No one knows how much time you have,” Joanne says. “Both of us are in reasonably good health for our age and mentally alert. So we want to enjoy our time here.”
