Army Veteran Dick Hauck's Love Letter To Wife Delivered 60 Years Later (VIDEO)

At 21 years old, Dick Hauck knew he had found the love of his life, and he was eager to let his girlfriend know it.

Hauck, who was serving in the Army at the time, wrote Arlene a detailed love note that revealed he had purchased an engagement ring, KARE 11 reports. Arlene never received the message, but that didn't stop the couple from tying the knot when Hauck returned home.

In March, nearly 60 years later, the letter finally made it into the hands of its intended recipient, thanks to a pair of workers remodeling Arlene's childhood home who found the unopened letter behind some linoleum, KARE 11 reports.

And when Dick read through his own words, he couldn't help but tear up a bit.

The Hauck's love story is reminiscent of New Jersey couple, who, after 71 years of marriage, still remain head over heels for one another.

Grayce and Clarence Dwyer, both 100-years-old, have sustained a loving relationship through their values and beliefs, ABC's Good Morning America reports.

So, what are the secrets to long-lasting relationships?

Rita Wilson, Huff/Post50's editor-at-large, asked readers for their advice. Tips included having mutual respect, allowing a partner to grow, and not walking away from a situation.

Well, it seems safe to say these couples have mastered the art of love. But what are your secrets? Share your advice in the comments section below.

For more on Dick and Arlene's story, visit KARE11.com for the full report.

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Comments

[peachpage01]

11:20 AM on 04/05/2012

During WW2, my uncle sent a letter to his sweetheart which the post office misdirected to another woman with the same name (one letter difference), and the rest is history. He and the mistaken women (my aunt) met up upon his arrival home, they married, etc. So Jean Kas, if you're still out there alive and kicking, George is sorry.

[LkeToRead]

12:28 PM on 04/05/2012

LOL good story. To the other Jean Kas if you are out there reading this, I hope you met your true love anyway.

[peachpage01]

12:34 PM on 04/05/2012

Thanks, me too!

[anitafeeney]

01:44 AM on 04/08/2012

that was sweet fanned

[gypsumrose]

06:10 AM on 04/05/2012

My thoughts huh? well, first I am happy for them, at one time I wanted this kind of relationship myself, and married my best friend thinking it would be like these couples in the article. Unfortunately it wasn't at all that way. In the end I realized that "True Love" much like the dragons was yet another fictional aspect of the fairy tails. That's not to say it doesn't exist, but truly we do our children a disservice when we let them grow up believing in the myths, fairy tales, and unrealistic idea that everyone has a prince charming or beautiful princess waiting for them. Better to let them look at the lives of real people for hope, then tell them the truth, its hard, its complicated, its beautiful, and sad, I hope you have it someday but don't worry if you don't. and those are my thoughts on love. (yes I know inb4 you all start calling me a cynical b***)

[travelmaven]

06:09 AM on 04/05/2012

Why was that letter hidden behind linoleum? Maybe Arlene's parents didn't want her getting letters from a soldier with an engagement ring! And they said it wouldn't last!!!

[anitafeeney]

01:47 AM on 04/08/2012

i was thinking that but its great that they ended up together anyway and i am glad it finally got delivered to the proper person

[robcartervn]

03:10 AM on 04/05/2012

if they are 100 years old they were born in 1911-12 surely so he was 21+71 years story says then so, he is 92 age now ~ and 2012-71 = 1944 war that adds ok.. But if we take 1944-21 = born 1923 so agai he is age 92 not 100 you quote? in the photo he even looks like not 100 and is tall.....so I wonder the whole thing might be a tall story.

[risingsongs]

04:28 AM on 04/05/2012

It's two different couples.

[cdb8315]

04:43 AM on 04/05/2012

In the article above, the couple who are 100 years old are Grace and Clarence Dwyer, NOT Dick and Arlene Hauck. It therefore appears that the liar is your own perception of logic and truth.

[Gene Allen]

03:04 AM on 04/05/2012

The old adage goes... Show me two people in love and I'll show you one liar.

[edeword]

02:22 AM on 04/05/2012

Very precious. The way love should be.

[IgorvonWurttemburg]

02:10 AM on 04/05/2012

........Years ago; while visiting an old couple who had been married 62 years , I noticed , how they could complete each other's sentences , they seemed like they were newly married and deeply in love ...I asked them what was the secret of their successful marriage ...and their response was :
......" We do everything together , house chores, fixing things , gardening etc. And every night before we go to bed we discuss the events of the day, and how we feel about what had taken place in that day. We laugh and cry together according to the ocassion "

.......Of course I pushed the envelope ,and asked about "private moments , if any".. with an instant wink , they looked at each other and said .. "We have always done our best for one another and the end result IS always great!..

For one split second their faces glowed and I saw a radiance which defied their age!

[DrKMcK1]

01:46 AM on 04/05/2012

That had to tickle her to pieces! How truely nice that the letter was found. Sends chills up my arms. Good for them.

[Nick Giannini]

01:41 AM on 04/05/2012

Its easy to realize why relationships lasted longer back then. It was the mindset. In those days when something was broken people would try to fix it instead of just throwing it out immediately and going out to get a new one.

[tcox609]

01:29 AM on 04/05/2012

My beloved husband Bill and I were married for 28 years, and he was my best friend, confidante and soul mate for 35 years. Sadly, on April 18, it will be 2 years since he passed away after a long battle with advanced prostate cancer, COPD and dementia from several TIAs. I miss him but know we're still connected in spirit. Our recipe for a long, successful marriage and mutual love was built on a solid foundation of friendship, mutual respect and admiration, trust, ease and comfort in relating to each other in all ways, similar values and interests, as well as professional strengths and expertise...and, of course, chemistry. We were partners in every sense, including in our business and professional lives. We liked each other as well as loving each other...and had so much fun together! We were quite lucky to connect in our lives when we did! He was a guest on a radio talk show I produced and hosted in my home town of Pittsburgh in the mid-1970's when he was a spokesman for Gulf Oil Corp. And, as it's said, the rest is our unique history. We were truly blessed to share such an incredible and satisfying life journey together. His many messages of encouragement and support over the years continue to bolster me in this new and exciting chapter of my life!

[Linda Small-Kruger]

01:20 AM on 04/05/2012

Back then some mail was slipped thorugh a mail slot and either went into a basket or on the floor and that would explaine how it got under the flooring.

My grandparents were married 65+ years and grandma always said that if you did not occasionally have and argument one person was giving too much and the other taking too much. You need to work on a good balance to make the marriage work. that is now our motto 46 yrs and still going strong.

[YakittyGirl]

01:11 AM on 04/05/2012

What a wonderful story. When we showed up for Grandparents Day at our youngest grandson's schoo 2 years ago, we were married 52 years, the other grandparents 61 years and my daughter and son-in-law for 25 years. When someone took a family picture, she remarked that it was strange for a kid to have all 4 original grandparents and all still married. Strange??? I find it sad that this woman thought it was strange. Two years later and we are all still married.

[philito]

12:59 AM on 04/05/2012

No one conforms to another's expectations one hundred percent. It's important to learn to let people be themselves even when they are not perfect. Being flexible and uncritical can be difficult at times, but unless something monumental is at stake, let it pass. If you must express your disatisfaction over a minor matter, eliminate an attitude that would likely provoke conflict.
Conflict will materialize without you helping it.

[mjoutfit]

12:49 AM on 04/05/2012

The only letters my father wrote in his entire life were to me while I was in Viet Nam. Like a lot of fathers and sons at the time, we were estranged when I left for boot camp, having been butting heads for years... the 'generation gap' it was widely called. For most of my tour I was with a highly mobile team that was in the 'boonies' most all the time, so mail had a hard time finding us. Still, I regularly got stuff from my mom and girlfriend. I did not expect anything from Dad, of course... the man did not write letters, and I believed he was mad at me to boot. Almost ten years after I returned to 'the world', a package arrived at my folk's house from the Dept. of Defense. Inside were about 20 letters Dad had sent. Mysteriously, not one had found it's way to me in RVN. He wrote about everyday things, but every line shouted out his love and concern. We were best friends for the next 40+ years, until his death at 93.

[tbird57lover]

01:23 AM on 04/05/2012

You, my friend, are richly blessed!

[mjoutfit]

01:53 AM on 04/05/2012

Yes, I am. Thank you.

[eskinature]

01:39 AM on 04/05/2012

The news story was a touching one, and ultimately, so was yours.

I only wish that we could all have that kind of mutual understanding with our own parents.

Just what was it that ultimately kept the stories respective letters from being delivered as they should have been, I wonder. Was it a lack of will-power, or that the senders didn't think the recipients would return the sentiments?

[mjoutfit]

02:15 AM on 04/05/2012

Some wisecracker once famously said, "I'm amazed at how smart my Dad became as I got older." So true. We had these weird 'military overseas' addresses, and I think my father had made the same single digit mistake on every letter... but I always kind of felt it just was meant to happen like that.

[rndfetz]

12:25 AM on 04/05/2012

A true love story!