After 60 years of marriage, Mari and Willem Grobler are clearly still in love. Mari studied BA Languages at the former Potchefstroom University of Christian Higher Education, and Willem BCom and MBA. Before they retired, Mari was a high school English teacher, while Willem held various positions in the dairy industry (Clover SA), including financial manager and accountant. 

Still special after 60 years

 

I am Willem Grobler and my wife’s name is Mari. If I could have my life over, I would have asked her to marry me even earlier.

 

One day, after a stroll underneath the huge oak trees, I asked the Big Question. Only back at the hostel’s front door did she say “yes” before disappearing into the safety of the residence.

 

This is how I won the “Gold Rush” on 10 March 1957. During the next two years, we often wandered hand-in-hand along the streets on and around the campus, her dainty hand in mine or my arm around her shoulders.

 

On Sunday evenings during the cold winter months, we exchanged the asbestos benches for listening to music in the Totius Hall. The main building steps also came in handy during our visits.

 

We now have two married children and three grandchildren and on 4 April 2021, we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary.