After 63 years apart, two brothers are reunited Save Email Print
Posted: 7:08 PM Jun 30, 2008
Last Updated: 9:14 AM Jul 2, 2008
Reporter: Alana Greenfogel
Email Address: Alana.Greenfogel@WNDU.com

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Many families enjoy family reunions as a chance to catch up on the last few months, maybe the last year.

But for one family, it's been 63 years!

"It's nice. Very nice. I'm very happy. Very happy," Charlie says about meeting his older brother.

This is an incredible story of two brothers, Harold and Charlie, who grew up in Berrien County. Their parents got divorced and the boys, age six and three, ended up in an orphanage.

Both were eventually adopted and grew up separately, until now.

"We started piecing together that my father came from a fairly large family," Gary Baude says.

Gary started digging into his family's background and in January came across a post on ancestry.com. It was posted in 1999! Almost ten years later, Gary connected with a woman who turned out to be his cousin. They wanted their fathers to reconnect so they made that happen. Family members met each other for the first time this week, back in Berrien County.

Actually, Gary's father wasn't able to make the reunion. His name is Gerald and he's a third brother! He's 75 years old and lives in California. The family says they believe there are ten siblings in all.

Still, Gary wanted to meet his uncles and other family members.

"They had different lives because they were adopted by different people, but when you put them together, they're exactly the same. They're exactly the same!" Gary says as he laughs.

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Posted by: Brenda Location: Idaho on Jul 16, 2008 at 04:40 PM
This story sounds so much like my husband's story! We have located his full brother and several half brothers and sisters, after 60 years ! My husbands Mother gave him up for adoption in July of 1947. In searching for his siblings, we learned that his half siblings were placed in an orphanage just prior to his birth, as their parents had divorced as well. The father, Victor Stricker, had remarried to Ada Lee, had a son, Victor Lee and then in 1947 my husband Bill was born and adopted at birth. Ada died in 1951, and Victor Lee was placed in the same orphanage as his siblings in 1955. Bill and I then Contacted the Nevada State Orphanage and learned the Non Identifying Information about his family. Then we followed up with the Nevada State Library & Archives and found more information. From there We accessed Ancestry.com and found an e-mail written by Bill's half brother, Smokey. I crossed my fingers and wrote to that e-mail address.The rest is History! This June,5 siblings were reunited!

Posted by: minnie Location: indpls in on Jul 12, 2008 at 12:10 PM
great looking for gail and karen vance sisters afros am cleveland oh so we can have happy reunion

Posted by: David Location: Watervliet on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:37 PM
This is a wonderful story. I to have a happy story like this one. My father was adapted. When he passed away I opened his records and found his family on his fathers side. I am still looking for his mothers family, with no luck. Much blessings to this beautiful family.

Posted by: k Location: sb on Jul 1, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Wasn't this on the TV a few days ago? Why is it just hitting the internet now? Is this WNDU way of making you actually WATCH the news if you want current information? you use this website if you can want your news old and already reported. Sad, the internet should be faster....or at least not days old.

This story was first posted on June 28th the day it aired. As is common with many of our stories, this story was actually put online before it was on air. Thank you. -WNDU.com


Posted by: Ronda Location: Argos on Jul 1, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Why is this news you ask?........This is a truly heartwarming story. So nice to see positive/happy in the news. Thank you WNDU for reporting this wonderful story! :)

Posted by: Heather Location: StJoesph MI on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:47 AM
I agree with Gary.

Posted by: Confused Location: Indiana on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:21 AM
This would potentially be a heart-warming story if I could understand it. Who are the men in the picture? Who's Gary? Why did it take almost 10 years for these men to finally meet? Too many questions left unanswered. Keep out the exclamation marks and fill in the gaps, please.

Posted by: Tara Location: Mishawaka on Jun 30, 2008 at 10:32 PM
This isn't always a happy ending. My father had the same thing happen to him.Found his little brother and found out he had two half sisters. It was all fine and dandy for about 5 years or so and then my grandparents passed away and the little brother my uncle wanted half their property. What a scammer and a jerk. The moral i guess just be careful who you let back into your life. They aren't always what they seem.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Bremen on Jun 30, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Why is it on the news? Maybe because there is so much negative stuff that we need some positive stuff once in a while!!!

Posted by: Mark on Jun 30, 2008 at 02:51 PM
I couldn't agree more with the 2nd Anonymous post. The story is nice. The authorship is awful, and so goes most of the drivel posted here. It was never good, but the recent change of ownership has seen the quality of reporting plummet. It shames me to know that this website is one of the primary portals used by outsiders to assess our community. With this as our facade, we all look a little dumb.

Posted by: Jenn Location: Berrien county on Jun 30, 2008 at 04:27 AM
Congradulations to the family.

Posted by: me Location: mishawaka on Jun 29, 2008 at 08:34 PM
why is this even in the news... i mean cmon?!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 29, 2008 at 05:19 PM
This would be a touching article if it wasn't written by someone who writes like a two year old. Please re-write this.

Posted by: Tôm Location: South Bend on Jun 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Amazing story.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 29, 2008 at 10:33 AM
What an awesome story. God bless you all.

Posted by: Big O on Jun 29, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Very cool story

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