The funeral went off well today, there were probably about 140 people. Lots of ex colleagues from Telkom even though Dan left there 4 years ago, lots of my colleagues from work and lots of kids and teachers, including the headmaster from the boys school. Here is my obituary which Paul read in the church.
Dan & I never needed to look very far to find each other, we lived right across the road from each other but Dan waited until I had finished matric until he made his first move, that was 25 years ago. I distinctly remember the first movie we went to see together, Conan the Barbarian, not exactly my favourite. The second one was ‘ET come home’ which was much better ! It wasn’t love at first sight for us but things moved gradually and after 4 years dating we decided it was time to ask parents and Dan started designing his very first house, the precise one we’re still living in, just a lot bigger now. By the time we got married in 1986 we had a completed house, a borrowed camping fridge, a brand new stove as my 21st birthday present, a mattress on the floor and we were all set. We ran out of money when we went on honeymoon so after a few days we parked of by the in-laws in Durban. Since then he has never stopped building and renovating, it is what he loved to do. Sometimes the projects didn’t get completely finished but we got used to that because he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm for some new idea he had already thought out. He has left us so much behind it’s a daunting task knowing how we’re going to manage it all as it was a full time job just for him.
When Clive and Paul were born he then started building tree houses, duck ponds and swings. For his family he would do anything, for any friend who needed a helping hand with a project he was always there to help them. He was at every rugby match that Clive and Paul played to support, encourage and coach them. When they took up karate he was there and became manager of the team so he could be involved.
He himself had been the under 19 rugby captain in his day at Milnerton High and had very passionate ideas about how things should be done, and he would have his say if he felt something needed to be said.
He was my life partner, the first and only man I have ever loved. We were very privileged to travel overseas a number of times and he got to know all my relatives in Holland, they have all been following his progress on our blog and are all equally devastated. We did everything together, made all decisions together. It’s already been difficult having to make all the decisions in these last 3 months while he has been sick. Unbelievable though it may seem we have never ever had a fight in our 25 years together.
He is one of a kind. He has left behind a great legacy for myself and the boys to continue. I’m sure he will be very proud of his sons as they mature into men, they have learnt well from their dad. He has fought a very brave 3 month battle against the leukemia and we were both still optimistic up until the end that he would be able to beat it.
Heaven has received a great man but we will miss him oh so much, it was an honor to be your wife and partner for 25 years.
Good bye my love, you’ll always still be with me in my heart.
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