Ludendorff Bridge leading across the Rhine River — making it inaccessible to vehicles — and American engineers had to construct a pontoon bridge going across .
Edgar ’ s tank was the first to cross the pontoon bridge into the heart of Nazi Germany . After the war in Europe ended , Edgar returned to the United States to prepare to fight in the Pacific , but Japan surrendered before his deployment . His war was over .
Edgar met Doris , 94 , at a party in 1948 while he was on leave . Since she was friends with Edgar ’ s sister , she got an invitation to the celebration . But it wasn ’ t love at first sight — at least not according to Doris .
“ To be honest , I did really like him when I first met him ,” Dorothy recalled . “ I thought he was awful .”
Doris and Edgar ran in a group of friends that consisted of the entire neighborhood .
“ It was just one of those neighborhoods where it was a click ,” Edgar said . “ Everybody ’ s together .”
Edgar and Dorris Willer pose for a photo with their oldest child , Dennis . Edgar and Doris have had four children — three sons and one daughter — in their 75-year marriage .
This typically meant everyone piling together in the same car — even if it meant 14 people to a vehicle — as one officer found out when he pulled them all over .
“ I imagine it was full ,” Doris laughed . “ We were probably hanging off the roof .”
According to Edgar and Doris , the members of their friend group were always dating each other , switching between each other like a game of musical chairs . However , in the end , Doris and Edgar started seeing each other . And despite initial apprehensions , the two came to appreciate one another ’ s company .
“ And I got stuck with you and you enjoyed it ,” Edgar smiled .
Edgar went to work at the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs ’ Marion County office in Knoxville , while keeping a small farm . Together , Edgar and Doris had four children : Dennis , born in 1951 ; Richard , born in 1952 ; Sandra , born in 1954 ; and David , born in 1955 .
Their commitment wasn ’ t lost on the four of them .
“ No , it ’ s not [ lost on me ],” Dennis said of his parents ’ marriage . “ It just gave us a good role model .”
It wasn ’ t always easy , but the two raised their family of six , remaining together for 75 years .
“ You have your ups and downs — you just live with them ,” Doris said . “ And the next day is always better .”
PROVIDED BY EDGAR AND DORIS WILLER Edgar and Doris Willer cut the cake on their wedding day in 1949 . The Willers remain married today and reside in Pella .
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