We began this unique Hall of Fame to honor both the institution of marriage and individual marriages that have gone the distance because “strong marriages that last a lifetime are the bedrock for a strong Wisconsin.”
Applying to the Hall of Fame is open to any married couple in Wisconsin who has been married for sixty or more years. No awards will be given posthumously.
Marriage Hall of Fame Inductees will be published on our website by March. By filling out the application, couples consent to have their names, story, and photos published on our website. Applications will open in January 2027.
2026 Longest Married Couple
Dewey & Faye Bartel
- Married Since 1949
Dewey and Faye both grew up in Milwaukee but didn’t meet until their high school years when they began dating. They attended different schools. Faye first saw Dewey while visiting her friend. After that first meeting, Dewey told his mom, “I’m going to marry that one.”
Dewey continued to see Faye, taking the bus often to go on dates in Milwaukee.
After high school, Faye and Dewey married in 1949 and settled down in Milwaukee. They have 2 sons and a daughter. Dewey worked at the forestry department, as a landscaper, as a salesman, and more before he retired at 56. Faye stayed busy raising the children and bookkeeping for a few grocery stores. She also worked as a lab supervisor in a nearby hospital. They eventually retired to Minocqua.
Faye shared one of her favorite things about their marriage, “We’re together always.” Their daughter jokingly adds, “They’re always kissing.”
Marriage Advice: “Just be kind to one another. There is nothing that’s more important than being kind to one another and anybody you can help.”
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Dewey & Faye Bartel now.
The Inductees
Click below to view other years of inductees!