February 21, 1997
How does one write about a love that lasted for almost 55 years? I first met Mary in 1940 at a picnic in Merrillan, Wisconsin, when Mary was going back to school at Menonmonie. I think she decided then that I was the one for her. I had just graduated from the University of Montana and was home after a summer of work in Idaho. From that day on there never was anyone else for her. We spent what time we could together -she at school and I working in Nekoosa at a paper mill.
Our first year of marriage was the beginning of a wonderful life for us. We had little money but that did not matter for we had each other. Mary dedicated her life to our marriage and to me in the years that followed – war time separation – three children and retirement. She loved her children and would do anything for them. She would fly to San Francisco to help her daughter-in-law with a new baby.
Then one evening in March of 1996 Mary left me in the blink of an eye. I could not believe that she was gone. Later that night, when I was in the bed we shared for so many years, she laid her hand on my shoulder and I knew then that she would always be with me. What happened next was a blur to me. Pastor Steve gave me great comfort. All of Mary’s children and their children came. We laid Mary’s ashes to rest under a large white pine tree in a beautiful forest north of our house. Then, each one placed a handful of sand and a red rose on the place where her ashes rested. Then her daughter talked about her mother. Next son Jon talked about his memories of his mother. Pastor Steve said a prayer and the little band began to walk back to the house. The day was cloudy, cold and snow on the ground. I was the last to leave the place where Mary and I had been so many times. I could hear a faint whisper of wind in the pine branches. What a wonderful place for Mary.
As I stood there a while thinking of how happy she made me – never asking for anything but my love. I thought of how she never worried about me when I was at sea during the war. She had faith that I would be alright. How she knew this I do not know. But her faith is a comfort to me now. I can think of no greater love than her love for me. As I stood by that tree I knew then that I would be alright, I could ask for nothing more.
Almost a year has passed now, and I am blessed by Mary’s presence in my life. Last week after a beautiful 10-inch snowfall, I skied to Mary’s tree. How beautiful it was with snow on its branches. I felt so at peace – everything so white and pure. Life really is wonderful. I will always have the sweet memory of Mary and the assurance that this magnificent tree will watch over her.
– Eugene Fay Landt
And now it will watch over him as well.
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