Brittany Euerle, now 31, was 22 and pregnant with her ex-husband’s child when she unexpectedly fell in love with an air-force veteran.
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Doug has since become a doting step-dad to Brittany’s child and is also a new dad all over again to two young girls; regularly getting confused as their grandfather.
The couple, from Clear Lake, Minnesota, have dealt with criticism from family and strangers, but they claim it has only made them stronger.
ONE DAY HE’LL BE GONE
Brittany, now a veteran’s service representative, says: “I hope others know to never judge a book by its cover and to never let something like age get in the way of true love.
“I know my husband’s no typical 30-year-old beach model and him being gone one day is in the back of my mind often.
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“But we just appreciate every second we have together.”
In 2014, Brittany, then 22, was pregnant and working in a hospital laundry room. Whilst Doug was 66 and was the hotel maintenance man.
For a year, they were both in unhappy marriages and would often chat and laugh when they’d cross paths during long shifts.
Someone from Doug’s past spread false lies that I was a gold-digger, and that we’d had an affair.
Brittany
Brittany says: “I worked at a hospital that provided medical care for veterans.
“Doug was over four decades older than me, yet he was my favourite co-worker.
“Back at home, I lived with my husband of five years. We’d been high school sweethearts and got married very young at 18.
“But we’d sadly grown apart over the years and although we had a little boy on the way, we were getting divorced.
“It was really tough, but I was doing the right thing for my child.
“At work, as I was fighting pregnancy cravings, Doug gave me little chocolates and caramels mid-shift.
“Soon, I began to confide in him about my impending divorce.
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“I found out Doug was in the middle of a divorce too. He’d been with his wife for 12 years and he’d never felt appreciated by her. My heart went out to him too.”
BONDING OVER BUMPS
Despite Brittany and Doug having a 44-year age difference, they were dealing with the same struggles and grief.
As Brittany’s due date grew closer, so did she and Doug.
She learned how Doug had two children in their 50s, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Like the patients at the hospital, Doug was also a military veteran, and had been in the air-force for 26 years.
Brittany says: “He’d been a chief master sergeant and was in the highest enlisted rank. His life, and achievements, were incredibly inspiring.
“Our bond, and connection, was undeniable. I fell in love with him.
“But with the age gap, my divorce not being final yet, and the baby just around the corner, I had to bury my feelings.”
That year, in August 2015, Brittany gave birth to her son, Evitt, now 8, and when he was three months old, she parted ways with her husband.
Meanwhile, Doug’s divorce also wrapped up and when Evitt was five months old, Doug began calling Brittany often to check in.
BLOSSOMING ROMANCE
Brittany says: “As Doug was a great-grandfather, he was wise and gave me lots of parenting tips and support.
“During my maternity leave, we went on long drives to the lakes, whilst Evitt napped in the backseat.
“I grew to love Doug even more. Later that year, once I’d returned to work, we eventually both came clean about our feelings.
“Doug told me how he’d loved me for a long time. I was over the moon.
“Although Doug was approaching his 70s, and I was in my early 20s, I knew I was an old soul. He also felt happier being around younger people.
“Yet, it was still nerve-wracking for the both of us. We didn’t know how our families would take it, and we didn’t want colleagues at the hospital to think we’d had an affair.”
After becoming a couple in June 2016, Brittany, and Doug both worried about their family’s reaction.
Brittany says: “After seeing the devastation from my marriage, my family were happy for me. But not everyone was.
“I was painted as a gold-digger by some people.”
DOUG BECOMES A DAD
But Doug and Brittany only got stronger.
The couple moved in together, got engaged and began trying for children in 2019.
Brittany says: “We had many conversations, worrying whether him being a dad so late in life was morally right.
“But we realised anyone’s parents could pass at any time. That was life.
“And after two miscarriages, we had a gorgeous daughter, Brynleigh, now 5.
The love Doug and I have is like a blazing fire. Every day Doug puts a log on it, never letting it burn out
Brittany Euerle
“Watching Doug become a father all over again, at the age of 69, was beautiful.”
The next year, in July 2019, the couple married without Doug’s family in attendance.
Two years later, in 2021, they had another daughter, Eliana, now 2.
Brittany says: “Doug was unable to run with the kids or throw a football. He had his struggles.
“But he was the best father, and he truly gave us the world.
“As time went on, people would see Doug, the kids and I and they would look frazzled; trying to figure out our relationship.
“Doug even started getting confused for the kid’s grandpa. They’d say, ‘Grandpa’s taking the grandkids out today!’
“Doug would tell them that they were his children and they’d turn bright red, looking humiliated.
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“We understood it was unusual for someone in their 70s to have young kids. Not wanting to embarrass people, we stopped correcting them.”
In time, Doug retired and became a stay-at-home dad taking care of Evitt, Brynleigh and Eliana as Brittany goes to work.
Brittany says: “His older children grew jealous. Doug had spent a lot of their childhood away for work.
“So they never had the same quality time with him. Especially as he had money now, and could take us on holidays and give us a good life.
“I understood their heartache and I never wanted the kids to take their place.
“As my kids got bigger, they started to slowly come around.
“Doug’s children started to talk to me, appreciating how much I valued him and his life. It was something Doug never had with his past marriage.
“I was finally accepted into the family, and it brought so much peace to my heart.
“Now, Doug’s 75 and I’m 31. We visit the family when we can, and Brynleigh and Elliana love to play with Doug’s great-grandchildren.
“I hope to raise awareness for other age gap couples. You can’t let something silly like a number get in the way of love.
“The love Doug and I have is like a blazing fire. Every day Doug puts a log on it, never letting it burn out.”
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