Willem and his wife, Susan, moved from Bloemfontein to Primrose a year ago to stay with one of their five children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are busy building a house in Primrose,\u201d Willem said.<\/p>
Willem was in the fire services for 46 years and Susan was a trauma nurse working in the ER, so the pair know the importance of donating blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started donating blood in June or July of 1967 and I will continue to donate until I am unable to anymore,\u201d said Willem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do it to deliver a humanitarian service to my fellow man.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple, who lived in Bloemfontein all their lives, were introduced by a relative.<\/p>\n However, their love affair blossomed behind the curtains of the ER as Willem would bring patients to the hospital where Susan worked.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce, the strict sister in charge even chased Willem away,\u201d laughed Susan.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were young and in love.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on May 24.<\/p>\n In celebration, they will hold a braai with their family.<\/p>\n Willem told the GCN how he was involved in road rescues and served on the N1 highway.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a satisfactory job to do as you are part of a team who is doing something good for others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n As Willem\u2019s career progressed in the fire services, he was the recipient of four medals, firstly a bronze, then a silver, then a gold and finally a platinum medal for long service.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/05\/18GCNGENERALBLOD_58686-520x390.jpg\")