Funeral of Prof. Mag. Gerhard Steinmetz MSc

 

 

oliver-gruber-lavon-ochoa  A report by Oliver Gruber-Lavin

On Nov 16th the Lazarus Union had the sad duty to bid farewell Prof. Mag. Gerhard Steinmetz MSc.

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Prof. Steinmetz was a founding member of the Lazarus Union and quite recently he assumed the responsible tasks of a Vice Dean of our International Leading Academy. He was representative of the board for crisis interventions and last he was a Brigadier General of the Lazarus Union.

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During the solemn laying out the honor guard was composed by Knights of Honor of the Lazarus Union; the musical pieces of the formal ceremony were performed by an ensemble of the music corps.

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In his speech the President of the Lazarus Union Sen. Prof. hc. Wolfgang Steinhardt not only appreciated the accomplishments of the deceased for the Union but also emphasized his human and amicable importance.

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Bishop Dr. Paul Iby the former diocesan bishop of Eisenstadt made the solemn benediction. In his speech he also found warm and acknowledging words for our comrade.

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After the benediction the procession went to the grave while the music corps played “The Last Post”. Family and friends and many comrades of different unions, voluntary fire services and of the “Ferdinandus Order” accompanied the procession.

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At the open grave the march of the Lazarus Union was played slowly and some last words were spoken.

We will miss him dearly and will honor his memory!

 

gerhard-steinmetz

Prof. Mag. Gerhard Steinmetz MSc
05.09.1958 – 06.11.2016

Founding Member of the Lazarus Union
Vice dean of the International Leadership Academy
Special representative for crisis intervention
Lazarus Union Brigadier

Obituary

 

Spiritual Dignitaries!
Dear Family!
Dear Dames and Knights of Honour!
Dear Comrades!
Revered Mourners!

 

Is it then so strange, dear Gerhard,
That a candle of life has to die away ?
They are borrowed only, limited in time,
So they have to pass away !
The eternal light of life will gleam instead
Even if it is a tiny glow.
For us – giving comfort !
Until we are called for a reunion.

 

I want to give this comforting wisdom for the road to all who lament our dear Gerhard together with us. It shows us the circle of life, the fate, but also the hope remaining for us as the mundane life is but a short glimpse in the eternal circle of the universe and that there will be a reunion. I firmly believe in this! Death shows to us quite clearly the finiteness of our mundane existence.

Gerhard was called into the great army on November 6th, 2016, suddenly und unexpectedly. Death came swiftly in the form of a heart attack, without pain and suffering. This shall give us a little comfort in our deep mourning.

During all the past years we were able to spend with him with small since 2007, he always was a valuable comrade to us who had his heart in the right place.

Yet I am grateful to fate that it brought the two of us together. Gerhard was a faithful supporter and consultant for me and my family in difficult times. I will not forget this and it connects us beyond death.

Gerhard was a founding member of the Lazarus Union and only shortly before his death was appointed to the responsible position of vice dean of our International Leadership Academy, he was a special representative of the board for crisis intervention, and held the rank of Lazarus Union Brigadier.

Gerhard, we thank you for all this!

I want to express my thanks to all comrades who came to pay their last respect to our Gerhard today. Especially to our music corps filled this celebration with the spirit of beautiful music. Gerhard truly earned all this esteem and honour!

By the death of a comrade, a friend, one loses much but never the time one spent together with him. We all will need much strength to cope with the inevitable in our memories!

Now is the time to say farewell to you, yet I am convinced that there will be a reunion.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen!

With the following tune and a prayer your comrades from the Lazarus Union bid you farewell. It shall accompany you as our last greeting on your final way on earth and we remember you in love, in friendship, and in respect. You will be missed a lot!

Goodbye, dear Gerhard and hold your protecting hand over us.

Senator Prof.h.c.
Wolfgang Steinhardt
Lazarus Union President and Commander
Grand Master Knighthood of Honour

Vienna, November 16th, 2016

 

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