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Brothers reunite after 80 years

Donald Hickey, 83, left, of Butler Township meets his brother, Bill Krizen, 84, of Florida for only the second time since being separated at birth.

Bernice Hickey, 82, stood on the sidewalk outside her Butler Township home with her flip-phone in hand. Bernice's husband, Donald, 83, waited nearby.

She spoke to her new sister-in-law, Nancy Krizen and her husband Bill who were en route to the family's home, but Thursday's torrential rain slowed the Krizens' trip from Ohio.

Minutes later, a black, Honda Civic pulled into their driveway.

The rain didn't deter Donald from greeting his brother, Bill, 84, as he exited the car.

“It's my brother, it's my brother,” Bill said as the two embraced.

After 80 years apart, the brothers, who were both adopted, reunited at Donald Hickey's home after they learned months earlier they shared the same father.

The two talked about and shared pictures of the lives they have lived over the past 80 years.

“Truth is stranger than fiction,” said Donald Hickey, 83, of Butler Township when he met his long lost brother after 80 years.

This is an excerpt from a story appearing in Tuesday's Butler Eagle. Be sure to pick up an issue to read the full story.

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