Two local men will be friends 'Until we die'
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WINSTON, Ore. -- Two Douglas County men let KPIC News have a peek into their lives, which demonstrate just how long-lasting a friendship can be.
Jerry Vander Hoff and Doug Van Slyke have been together since the beginning.
The two met in elementary school.
Jerry and Doug stayed by each others side all through school, and even competed in the Special Olympics Games together in 1972.
Their friendship didn't end with school, though. The two stuck together after graduation and became some of the first employees at Sunrise Enterprises.
They worked there side by side, for 38 years.
Now, the two friends volunteer their time at the Wildlife Safari.
Jerry says he enjoys spending time with his friend at the park. "Pretty good, they've got big animals buddy, big animals," he said.
Doug's brother Dan Van Slyke says the friendship the two men share has been an inspiration to him. "It just does me good to see a couple of guys that have been together all these years, and are literally life-time friends," Van Slyke said.
Though Doug and Jerry are retired now, they still spend a lot of time together, and Doug says that will never change.
Doug says the two men will be friends, "Until we die."
