Husband decorates whole neighborhood to preserve wife’s Christmas memories during her Alzheimer’s journey

As couples age, their love often deepens, fostering a greater appreciation for shared moments. With time, the desire to celebrate even the smallest moments becomes stronger, as they seek ways to honor their bond and create lasting memories. Festivals, in particular, become treasured occasions to embrace joy, strengthen relationships and craft new stories together. John Reichart, a 74-year-old Marine veteran from Iowa, highlighted this profound emotion through his grand gesture for his wife, Joan. The man's 53-year-old wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago and since then, Reichart has been on a mission to make new memories for her to cherish. 

To surprise his beloved wife, Reichart spent days planning a Christmas party for his entire neighborhood. "If it wasn't for my wife, I don't know if I would've done it. But she wanted Christmas, so I'd give it to her. I'd do anything to make her happy," he shared with CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews). The extravagant effort by the devoted husband quickly grabbed eyeballs in the town of Indianola, where Reichart resides, with many locals volunteering to help the old man achieve his dream Christmas party.

Talking about her dear husband's thoughtful gesture, Joan said, "I didn't know what to think," Joan said. "But I'm glad he did it. I love him." The outlet also spoke to neighbors in the couple's community, who praised John’s act of love. "I think the whole neighborhood feels very blessed to have him in this neighborhood," said one resident. Another admirer added, "And the thing that he has done this work just to make her (Joan) happy, that's what Christmas and love is." Reichart's heartwarming story exemplifies his enduring love and commitment to his wife Joan. His selfless act not only brought joy to his loving partner but also inspired and united his entire neighborhood, proving that true love surpasses challenges and continues to shine brightly. "As long as she's OK. And even if she would pass, I'm gonna do it in her memory as long as I can do it," he added.

To show their heartfelt gratitude, Reichart's neighbors set up a P.O. box to collect Christmas cards for him. They plan to hand over the cards so he can read them to his wife. The story quickly gained attention online, receiving widespread praise from netizens. People applauded Reichart for his deeply meaningful gesture and his enduring love for his wife.

Meanwhile, another incident of similar love and enduring support unfolded when a terminally ill husband went beyond imagination to express love to his beloved wife on his last Christmas on Earth. An emotional video from 2017 features the adorable couple dancing to the John Lennon song "So This Is Christmas." Their daughter (@madmnc) shared the wholesome video on TikTok and wrote, "Thinking of my dad's last Christmas ever on earth when he took off his oxygen and danced with my mom because it was what she missed the most when he got sick." 

In a follow-up video, she shared that her father passed away on June 10, 2018, and revealed another heart-wrenching moment from the hours before his death. She recounted how her mother stayed close to her husband until his final moments. While the family gathered around her dying father, the daughter encouraged her mother to create a poignant memory. "I remember saying to my mom, 'Mom, get in the bed with dad. Mom, he is your husband. Get in with him. That's what you wanted,'" she shared. Following her advice, the mother climbed into the bed, wrapping her arms around her husband and lying beside him until he passed away.