Uncle Karl was my Dad's older brother, who had serious health issues during his whole lifetime after a bicycle accident he had as a teenager, causing serious damage to both hips. I cannot even express it in numbers how often he had to go to hospital to have new hip surgeries done, and later, due to diabetis, his left leg had to be amputated. Whenever the so-called phantom pain got worse, my uncle started to sing, because he meant not to show his pain by moaning, always very careful in his attempt not to burden his beloved family.

If someone asks me how I remember my uncle, all I can say is that he was even kinder than my own father is, too good to be true indeed. To this day, he would still have to say the first loud or angry word, I tend to say that some people are simply born without the genes for moodiness or occasional burstouts. Never in his whole life did he use a swear word, he was always kind and caring, and whenever you asked him how he was, he would always confirm that he was ok or fine (this is something he has got in common with his younger brother).

The two of them would call each other practically daily, if only to exchange a few sentences, if either of them was late, the other worried beyond measure.

It was a very bad shock when Uncle Karl's health worsened to such an extent that he had to be put into an artificial coma from which he never came back.

The day that I got the call from my cousin that he had passed away was a day that made me almost despair, as I knew that I had to tell Dad, who was already handicapped. He knew that his beloved brother was in hospital and unable to call him or receive calls, but I had tried to 'veil' the seriousness of the situation and hide my fears from Dad, also afraid that this might make him break down.

With the help of the mobile nurses, I managed to tell Dad, and he insisted on going to the funeral. Unable to walk, my cousin brought Uncle Karl's wheelchair, and again, Dad amazed me by absolutely wanting to see his brother in his then open casket (it was not open for the funeral, otherwise I would not have been able to attend). Dad amazed really amazed me that day with his courage, but he cried his eyes out.

I know that he still misses Uncle Karl as much as we all do, but I also know that Uncle Karl and his beloved wife, my godmother Inge, are now in heaven with my mother (whom Uncle Karl lovingly referred to as 'my favourite sister-in-law, no big thing considering the fact that she was his only sister-in-law).

I shall always love this very special uncle of mine, may God bless him always.

A big thank you to Jim Rowe for kindly sponsoring my Uncle's Memorial, you are a gem !