Man decorates entire street as early Christmas gift to his wife with Alzheimer's

KCCI EIGHT NEWS AT TEN. WITH HALLOWEEN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, IT’S TIME TO LOOK AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IS TAKING OVER ONE INDIANOLA STREET. KCCI’S PEPPER PURPURA IS LIVE FROM EAST FRANKLIN AVENUE TONIGHT. PEPPER. QUITE THE LIGHT SHOW THERE AROUND YOU. OH, IT’S LIKE A WINTER WONDERLAND OUT HERE, STACEY. I MEAN, WE HAVE THESE LIGHT UP TREES LIKE, NINE FEET TALL. SOME VERY CHRISTMASSY CHARACTERS DOWN HERE. NOT TO MENTION THE LIGHTS UP ON HOUSES AND EVERY SINGLE LAWN DOWN HERE LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS ONE. ALL THE WAY DOWN. BOTH SIDES OF EAST FRANKLIN AVENUE. AND THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PART IS ALL OF IT WAS PUT UP BY ONE MAN ON BEHALF OF ONE VERY SPECIAL WOMAN’S CHRISTMAS WISH. PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES IN PLACE TO BRIGHTEN SPIRITS AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS. IF ONE PERSON DRIVES BY AND FEELS HAPPINESS IN THEIR HEART, YOU KNOW, THEN I’VE DONE MY JOB. AFTER MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF SETUP AND THOUSANDS SPENT ON DECORATIONS, JOHN REICHERT’S DREAM OF LIGHTING UP HIS STREET IS A REALITY. THE MORE THE MERRIER. I INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME BY AND SEE IT BECAUSE IT IS VERY PRETTY. WHEN IT GETS DARK OUT, UP AND DOWN EAST FRANKLIN AVENUE IN INDIANOLA. REICHERT INSTALLED CHRISTMAS DECOR ON EVERY LAWN, CREATING A LIGHT SHOW THAT’S ALREADY DRAWING EYES. HEARING THE KIDS WALK DOWN THE STREET AND YOU KNOW, YELL AT THEIR MOM AND DAD. LOOK AT THIS. LET’S GO LOOK AT THIS. ALTHOUGH SEEING THE ADORING FACES OF HIS COMMUNITY IS AN ENJOYABLE SIGHT, REICHERT SAYS THERE’S ONE SPECIAL WOMAN THAT MOTIVATED THE EFFORT. HIS WIFE. I MEAN, HEARING HIS STORY AND KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM. I THINK JUST MAKES IT ALL THE MORE SPECIAL AND WHY HE’S DOING IT. REICHERT’S WIFE HAS ALZHEIMER’S. HE SAYS LIGHTING UP THE STREET WAS HIS WAY TO MAKE A MEMORY WITH HER, AND SHE’LL REMEMBER THIS. AND SHE WANTED CHRISTMAS. SO I GIVE HER A CHRISTMAS SO THAT EACH TIME SHE LOOKS OUTSIDE THIS SEASON, SHE IS REMINDED OF HIS LOVE FOR HER. IN INDIANOLA PEPPER PURPURA KCCI EIGHT NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF LOVE WENT INTO THIS DISPLAY AND THE NEIGHBORS, AS WELL AS REICHERT HIMSELF, SAY THEY WANT YOU TO SEE IT ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA IS INVITED TO TAKE A DRIVE DOWN EAST FRANKLIN AVENUE TO SHARE IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. LIGHTS GO ON AFTER SUNSET AND ARE SET TO BE ON UNTIL ABOUT 11 AT NIGHT. IN INDIANOLA. PEPPER PAPURA KCCI EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. HE SAID SHE WANTED CHRISTMAS, AND I GAVE HER CHRISTMAS. THAT’S A PRETTY SPEC

Lights and decorations adorn every lawn on East Franklin Avenue in Indianola, Iowa, in hopes of brightening the spirit of one neighbor with degenerative brain disease, thanks to a Vietnam veteran who dedicated months to the project. John Reichart says he's been assembling Christmas decor in his garage since September. On Thursday, the final lawn ornament was staked into his neighbor's grass, completing the display spanning more than 20 lawns."If one person drives by and feels happiness in their heart, you know, then I've done my job," Reichart said.Complete with flashing rooflines, colorful spiraling trees and Christmas characters, the display is catching the eyes of neighbors."Just hearing the kids walk down the street and yell at their mom or dad, 'Look at this, look at this, let's go look at this.' (You see) their walks turn into speed walking or slow jogs, so they can get to one house from the next," neighbor Frank Ewurs said.Reichart said the adoring onlookers bring joy to his heart, but the person he hopes to please with it is his wife. Reichart's wife is a breast cancer survivor who now has Alzheimer's disease. The couple's shared love of Christmas has always been something that bonded them. Reichart said leveling up the display is a way they can continue to make memories."She will remember this," Reichart said. "She wanted Christmas, so I give her Christmas."

INDIANOLA, Iowa —

John Reichart says he's been assembling Christmas decor in his garage since September. On Thursday, the final lawn ornament was staked into his neighbor's grass, completing the display spanning more than 20 lawns.

"If one person drives by and feels happiness in their heart, you know, then I've done my job," Reichart said.

Complete with flashing rooflines, colorful spiraling trees and Christmas characters, the display is catching the eyes of neighbors.

"Just hearing the kids walk down the street and yell at their mom or dad, 'Look at this, look at this, let's go look at this.' (You see) their walks turn into speed walking or slow jogs, so they can get to one house from the next," neighbor Frank Ewurs said.

Reichart said the adoring onlookers bring joy to his heart, but the person he hopes to please with it is his wife. Reichart's wife is a breast cancer survivor who now has Alzheimer's disease. The couple's shared love of Christmas has always been something that bonded them. Reichart said leveling up the display is a way they can continue to make memories.

"She will remember this," Reichart said. "She wanted Christmas, so I give her Christmas."

Man decorates entire street as early Christmas gift to his wife with Alzheimer's

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