On Monday, April 5, we started running Klaus Citterman’s story, which begins with his escape at age 17 from Nazi Germany; continues as he and his parents flee to Shanghai, China; and concludes in Portland, Oregon, where he marries, builds a new life, and raises four children.

The story was written by Klaus’s daughter, Teri Citterman Bahm, a public-relations consultant, freelance writer, and award-winning wine writer.

Teri, who chronicled the last six years of her father’s life, was kind enough to share portions of her memoir with Five More Minutes With.

Klaus’s Story, Part IV

Over the next few years, Dad’s life became more limited, by mental, rather than physical, incapacity. He lived at Encore Village and could count on one visitor almost every day. As Mom entered his cottage, oftentimes his bright blue eyes would greet her and he’d throw his arms in the air.

“Look! My wife is here!”

Mom would take him for walks in the courtyard, even though sometimes he would steal her walker, leaving her stranded. She would accompany him to dances, with Dad looking dapper in his coat and tie. Mom would make sure he’d go on the fishing trips and to the courtyard barbecues. Every day, she’d leave him with Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses.

He was very lucky.

They celebrated 61 years together. And after 61 years, they still couldn’t get enough of each other.

We should all be so lucky.

Part V: The final installment of Teri Citterman’s remembrance of her father, Klaus.