A couple who were made to put their daughter up for adoption after falling pregnant as teenagers before being driven apart by their parents have revealed how they found love together again more than 50 years later.
Karen Lehmann and Denny Vinar, from Minnesota, were high school sweethearts who discovered they were expecting a child in 1961, when Karen was just 15.
She was sent to a home for unmarried mothers and made to place her daughter, Denise, up for adoption. Karen and Denny stayed together but eventually split because Karen's parents did not agree with the union.
After more than five decades without speaking, Denny contacted Karen, then a widow, over LinkedIn. When the pair finally met in person it was love at first sight - and they finally married just 36 hours later.
'It felt like nothing much had changed including his dimples when he smiled and the sparkle he has,' Karen said.
The couple later reconnected with their daughter, who now uses the name Jean Voxland.
Karen Lehmann and Denny Vinar, from Minnesota, reconnected after 53 years apart using LinkedIn and went on to reunite with their daughter Jean Voxland (pictured centre)
Denny and Karen (pictured) got married just 36 hours after they met in person for the first time in over 50 years
Karen told WCCO how their relationship blossomed in high school where Denny would take her to dances, sports matches and walk her home each afternoon.
After discovering she was pregnant, her disapproving parents sent her out of town to a Lutheran Social Services home for unmarried mothers.
Denny continued to visit her and was able to hold his daughter for an hour before she was taken to be placed for adoption.
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Share'We had a photo taken off her and that was the last of our memories of her,' Karen said.
The young couple stayed together as Denny left to serve in the military in Germany. When he returned home he proposed to Karen, then in her early 20s.
Yet her parents did not approve of the match and wanted their daughter to complete her degree in interior design studies at the University of Minnesota.
Karen and Denny (pictured) were able to reconnect with their daughter after the adoption agency contacted Jean
The couple gradually lost contact after deciding to end their relationship and moved on with new partners.
But Denny never stopped thinking about his childhood sweetheart and said she has always had a 'corner of his heart'.
In 2014 he decided to search for Karen after being asked at a dinner party: 'If your physician gave you 60 days to live, who would be one person with whom you would like to talk or have dinner?
Denny found Karen, then living in Washington, on LinkedIn and left her a message.
The couple spoke for three months before Denny flew out to meet her in person.
Denny said: 'It was just magic. She got out of the car and she ran around and she jumped on me and said, "babe, you’re home".'
The pair married 36 hours later and settled down in the Twin Cities.
Karen continued: 'One day he said, "Karen it took me this long to find you. My life would be complete if we could find our daughter".'
The adoption agency helped them find Jean, who initially ignored contact until she had a discussion with her husband.
Since reconnecting, they have been making up for missed birthdays and the years spent apart.
'The love we have for each other is second to none. Today, even today, it’s unbelievable,' Denny said.
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