Couple Married 65 Years Die on Same Day Thanks to 'Faith in God'
Ruthie and Harold Knapke were just days away from celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary when they both suddenly passed away on the same day earlier this month - a coincidence that their grandson attributed to their faith in God.
Jeff Simon explained that he believed his grandparents' strong commitment to their faith as "Devout Catholics" was one of the cornerstones of their lives.
"I don't think any of this would have happened without God," Simon told FoxNews.com. "It was very hard to see them both go at the same time, but it was a good thing in the end and to see the miracles God can do."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The Ohio couple met in third grade but began their relationship when Harold served in the Army in World War II. According to the Dayton Daily News, his wife would joke: "I let him chase me until I caught him!"
The couple had six children and 14 grandchildren and remained devoted to each other their entire lives. In her eulogy, their daughter Margaret Knapke spoke of the sustaining love that they had for one another.
"In recent years, we often speculated that Dad was still here, in this life, because of Mom. It seemed that, even though his health and strength were so very diminished, he couldn't stop being her protector; it seem he didn't want to leave her behind," she said.
In the days leading up to her death, Ruthie had contracted an infection serious enough for her children to inform her husband that her death was likely imminent.
"When it became clear that Mom was dying — and Dad understood that — he spent a mostly sleepless night," Margaret said. "The next day, Friday, there was a certain calm about him, and he began to fail rapidly. As you might know, Dad died 11 hours before Mom did — both of them on Sunday — and we believe he did that as final act of love for her. We believe he wanted to accompany her out of this life and into the next one, and he did."
Carol Jean Romie, 57, told Fox News that while she mourned the loss of her parents, they were likely celebrating being together.
"It was definitely a mixed blessing," said Romie. "But we figure they're in heaven dancing now."
