Devoted Husband Decorates Neighbors’ Homes for Christmas – For Heartbreaking Reason

It turns out that Santa Claus is real.

An Iowa man filled with Christmas spirit has taken it upon himself to decorate every home in his neighborhood every holiday season — an act of kindness that one neighbor described as “moving.”

And there’s a good reason why 74-year-old John Reichart takes on this Herculean task again and again: all for Joan, his vacation-loving wife of 53 years who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease years ago. is four years old.

Since then, he’s been determined to create as many memories for her as possible, starting with the most wonderful time of the year.

“Without my wife, I don’t know if I would have done it,” Reichart, a Navy veteran, told CBS News. “But she wanted Christmas, so I’d give it to her.” I would do anything to make her happy.

The good deed quickly caught the attention of the town of Indianola, where the Reicharts live – with many local elves volunteering to help in what has become something of a tradition in their corner of the Hawkeye State.

One Indianolan said the whole area felt “very lucky” to have this cheerful man as a neighbor.

“This is what Christmas is all about,” said another.

Best of all, the transformation of the block still brings Joan a lot of joy.

“I’m glad he did it,” she said. “I love it.”

The faithful husband has no plans to slow down in the years to come.

“As long as she’s OK,” he will, Reichart told the station.

“And even if she succeeds, I will do it in her memory for as long as I can,” he said.

Meanwhile, a grateful neighbor has opened a post office box where well-wishers can send Christmas cards to the couple.

Send your greetings to:

John Reichart

C/O Frank Ewurs

PO Box 133

Indianola, IA

50125