'Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other'
Des Moines, Iowa - An Iowa couple who was married for 72 years
died one hour apart last week in the hospital as they held hands.
© Yeager FamilyGordon and Norma Yeager
Family said the story of is a real-life love story.
On the day she graduated from high school, Norma Stock said yes to Gordon Yeager's marriage proposal. The couple got married on May 26, 1939 in State Center.
"They're very old-fashioned. They believed in marriage til death do you part," said son Dennis Yeager.
Dennis Yeager was the youngest of four children born to the couple. His sister Donna was first born.
"Staying together for 72 years is good, I'd say that's exceptional," said Donna Sheets.
The way the kids tell it, dad was the life of the party while mom kept everything together.
"Anybody come over - she was the hostess with the mostess. She just seriously - the more she did - the more she smiled," said Dennis Yeager. "Dad would be the center of attention, like, 'Weee look at me,' and mom was like 'get him away from me!' You know we even got a picture like that."
Norma didn't really want the distance, and family said she hardly left Gordon's side for 72 years.