70 years of marriage: A love story that began with a newspaper

TRUE love actually exists. It isn’t just something you see in movies or read about in books. It’s the kind of love that carries you through decades, a love that never stops caring, never stops giving, and never gives up on each other. It’s the quiet, steady presence of someone who holds your hand through life’s highs and lows, celebrates your joys, and supports you in times of struggle. This is the love Andrew and Miems Prinsloo share, a love story that has lasted 70 years and continues to inspire everyone around them.

Andrew, 93, born in Waterval Boven, and Miems, 90, from Brits, sit hand-in-hand on a couch in one of their children’s homes in Kimberley, their eyes full of love and warmth. Today, February 4, 2026, they are celebrating an extraordinary milestone: 70 years of marriage, three children, countless memories, and a bond built on love and respect that has stood the test of time.

Their story began in Pretoria when a young Andrew was recovering from a knee operation at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Groenkloof. Miems, his nurse at the time, would bring him the newspaper every day because he loved reading it. “She brought me the newspaper every day I was there,” Andrew recalls. “We started talking more and more and enjoyed each other’s company.” 

That simple daily gesture sparked a friendship that slowly grew into love.

After Andrew was discharged, they continued to see each other regularly. “I invited Miems to go dancing with me, and we went to the movies together,” Andrew says. “I liked her very much. After a month or so, I decided to ask her to marry me.” 

Miems remembers the moment with a laugh: “I was quite surprised when he proposed out of the blue. I knew there was something special at the time, so I said ‘yes’. It may have been quick, but I knew he was the one, and 70 years later, here we are today.”

Over seven decades, they have adapted to a changing world while staying committed to the promises they made at the altar. “We had to adjust as everything changed, and we did so without letting it affect our marriage. As time went on, we grew stronger together,” Andrew says.

They have also faced hardships. Andrew recalls one of the most frightening moments of his life while working as a railway fitter: “I was on top of a train checking the height of the pantograph. My foreman was supposed to check that the power was off. He saw other men working on the line further away and presumed it was off, but it wasn't. The power line struck me, and I fell off the train. When I woke up, I smelled the familiar smell of cement. That’s when I realised I was lying on the ground. Experiences like that draw you closer because they remind you just how fragile life is and how precious the people around you truly are.”

When asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, Miems is clear: “Respect each other from both sides. Don’t place unnecessary pressure on one another, and in everything you do, make decisions together.” 

Andrew adds, “We work together in everything we do and make sure one doesn’t dominate the other. Be equal at all times.”

Their happiest shared memories include both big milestones and simple everyday moments. Sports played a large role in their lives when they were younger. Andrew played rugby for 10 years, as well as bowls and baseball. Miems excelled in softball, hockey, and bowls, earning North Transvaal honours for softball. 

“We had many beautiful times together in sports, and those memories will always stay with us,” Andrew says. “Time spent with our children and family is also very dear to us, and those are the memories we will always cherish.”

When offering advice to younger couples hoping for a lasting marriage, Miems says: “Be respectful to each other at all times. Make decisions together as husband and wife, be patient with each other, and keep faith in the Almighty at all times. That is the foundation of a happy marriage.”

Reflecting on their 70th anniversary celebration, Andrew says: “It means so much that we can realise how grateful we are for the grace from above to reach this point. We are here with our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and family. At the end of the day, that is all a person really has.”

Andrew and Miems sit together on the couch, holding hands as they have for decades, a living testament to love, respect, and a marriage that has truly stood the test of time.