Joan And Doug Fueger: A Love Story 50 Years In The Making

GREENDALE, WI — The story of Joan and Doug Fueger is a Greendale love story that's more than 50 years in the making.

One of the couple's daughters, Jennifer Fueger, reached out to Greendale Patch to tell their story ahead of their 50th wedding anniversary later this month.

Back in the old days, Doug went to Pius IX High School in Wauwatosa and Joan went to West Allis Central. They first met at a local car wash where they both worked.

Jennifer told Greendale Patch that her parents had vastly different recollections of those first awkward steps in their relationship.

"As my father tells it, he saw my mother’s long blonde hair blowing in the dryer area, and it was love at first sight," she said. "As my mother tells it, she agreed to go on a date because he was annoying and kept asking, but she had no intention of dating him."

They did end up going on that first date. Once they did, it led to the beginning steps in their 50-plus year journey together.

"My father was so nervous, so he brought one of his friends along on their first date, but he must’ve done something right because they were inseparable thereafter," she told Patch.

They married on Aug. 29, 1970, and moved to Greendale to raise a family. Sisters Jennifer and Jessica grew up in Greendale in the same house that their parents live in today.

"They were amazing parents," Jennifer said. Joan helped the sisters earn all of their patches in Brownies and Girls Scouts. She took the time to go on all the school field trips, and volunteered at Canterbury.

Joan taught the girls how to sew, bake and build forts in their living room.

"But my favorite thing was every day my mom wrote on the napkin in my bag lunch telling me she loved me," Jennifer said.

Doug taught the girls how to play sports, and was always around to help with homework. "The bravest thing he did though was teach us how to drive," Jennifer said.

They grew up on a one-block stretch of Balsam Court, a quiet neighborhood filled with Greendale original homes just north of Village Hall.

"We had the best block where all of the families hung out together playing street games — kick the can, ghost in the graveyard, touch football — kids and adults alike. There were cookouts, block parties, house parties, vacation together and most are still friends even though some have moved away. That’s how great Greendale was," Jennifer said.

Today, Jessica lives in Hawaii and Jennifer lives in Florida. Jennifer said they hope to all be together soon, so they can vacation together in Door County.

"They still hold hands, joke around with each other and are devoted to each other," Jennifer told Patch. "I know I can speak for both of us when I say Jessica and I are forever grateful to have been raised by such amazing parents who embody what love and marriage is supposed to be."