Arnie and Janice Lillo have been madly in love for nearly six decades.
Set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in May of 1958, the pair has been together since.
“We just hit it off and liked each other, and just grew from there,” Arnie, 74, told CBS affiliate KEYC. Arnie told Global News that the couple married only a couple months after the first date.
Fifty-seven years later, a 45-foot tall steel monument now stands as a testament to their love.
The retired metalworker from Good Thunder, Minnesota, wanted to build the replica Eiffel Tower for his wife who is battling lung cancer.
WATCH: Earlier this year, Arnie began the construction of the replica Eiffel Tower to honour his wife Janice
Janice, who is of French heritage, said she can’t believe all the work her husband has put into building not only the tower, but also a garden gate to honour her.
“He went through all this trouble because he loves me,” she said.
Because of her illness, Janice’s once flourishing gardens have all but grown over with weeds and the octagon-shaped garden gate will be a way to remember all her contributions to their hobby farm.
Arnie said the tower and the gate will stand together as the centrepiece of all the metal art that decorates their property, and will be a lasting memorial for the love of his life.
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