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Husband and wife married 63 years die 20 minutes apart

PLATTE, S.D. » A husband and wife died within 20 minutes of one another side-by-side in a South Dakota nursing home after 63 years of marriage.

KSFY-TV reports Henry and Jeanette De Lange died July 31 at Platte Care Center.

The couple’s son, Lee De Lange, says his 87-year-old mother suffered from Alzheimer’s and had been in a nursing home since 2011. He says his 86-year-old father visited her daily before recently entering the same nursing home.

Lee De Lange says after his mother died peacefully, he told his father, “mom’s gone to heaven. You don’t have to fight anymore, you can go too if you want.” He says his father looked at his wife, closed his eyes and died minutes after.

The couple’s joint funeral was to be held Monday.

8 responses to “Husband and wife married 63 years die 20 minutes apart”

  1. ainokea1964 says:

    this is such a touching story. May they both RIP with pain free. What an awesome story.

  2. kiragirl says:

    The will to live and the will to pass. Figured what is there to live for with the passing of his wife. They will be together once again. May God Bless

  3. paniolo says:

    WOW…my deepest ALOHA to their ohana.

  4. Bdpapa says:

    Wow scary, but heart warming!

  5. 808warriorfan says:

    Modern day Romeo & Juliet … till death they did part … RIP

    • lwandcah says:

      Actually, that is exactly what happened in the movie “The Notebook” with James Garner and Gena Rowlands. I would not be surprised if this happens a lot more than we all realize. This is true love (not to say if you don’t choose to check out with your loved one, must mean you love them less).

  6. BigOpu says:

    Wow! Love till the very end. Very cool.

  7. teeman says:

    Endless Love. God bless

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