3 Year-Old Spends Most Of His Day With His 89 Year-Old Best Friend

July 10, 2014

For these two best buds, age is just a number. Three year-old Emmett Rychner has befriended his neighbor Kindem, an 89-year-old World War II veteran, over a love of tomatoes, tractor racing and the simple joys of life.

KARE

For nearly 10 years, the Rychners lived next door to Kindem, exchanging pleasantries but otherwise keeping to themselves. But last year, Emmett started a friendship that has endured even the cold and snowy Minnesota winter.

The two became close quickly, with Kindem teaching the little boy things about fixing a bike, throwing a baseball or fishing. They'd even play croquet, the war veteran staying spry with the little tyke by his side. The two would race their matching green John Deere tractors: Kindem's the real kind, Emmett's a toy replica.

KARE

"His patience is unbelievable," Emmett's dad told the station. “He sees Emmett outside playing, he'll find a reason to go outside."

"I was in the kitchen and I heard the snow blower going, sounds like Erling is really close to the house," Emmett's mom added. "I opened the window and he was snow blowing a path from his back door to our back door."

But sadly, things are about to change for the two pals, as the Rychner family is moving into a bigger home, and Kindem is going to a senior home. However, the new living arrangements will only place the two about 5 minutes apart.

Hopefully they will stay in touch and remain friends. "I love him," says Emmett in the clip above.

Sources: NY Daily News, Kare11