Meyersdal love birds cherish 41st wedding anniversary

Alberton business giant Mike Maree and his wife Denise, celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on November 13.

From the happy home they built together and their many beautiful memories, they described their anniversary as the best 41 years of their lives.

Mike was on an escalator in the Carlton Centre in central Johannesburg on his way to a meeting with a friend when he first saw Denise.

“It was love at first sight for me. What a surprise when I arrived at the meeting and was introduced to her as one of his colleagues. We were married six months later, on November 13. Many said it was unlucky 13, but how wrong they were,” he said.

The entrepreneur has had a time-consuming yet rewarding career as a co-founder of Mugg and Bean.
Despite spending too much time away from home to open stores locally and internationally, Denise always stood by his side.

“She is a pillar of strength, nurturing and keeping our family together with care. I honour her sacrifice in my book Bean There, which is available for sale,” Mike said.

Today, although not retired, the Meyersdal couple still enjoy a good relationship with their two children, Rowan and Gisele, and their families. They also enjoy the time they can spend with their four grandchildren – ‘the most precious gift from God’.

The couple’s shared love beside their family is travel.

“We have been blessed to have visited 32 destinations together in the sparse free time we have shared.

Although we have been blessed with a choice to live anywhere in the world and have put that to the test, having lived in the USA fairly recently, we made a decision that we prefer it here and, in particular, Alberton, where we have been for nearly 25 years,” Mike explained.

He reiterated that Alberton has been good to them and that the people retain that ‘village attitude’ where all are welcome and you can chat with almost anyone you bump into.

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