“He was a guy like a tree, that's why we opted for an oak”: Schongau's Plantsch managing director Andreas Kosian emphasized and reminded of Michael Reinartz.
The long-time swimming master in the paddling area has died after patiently enduring illness.
In honor of "their Michael", the Plantsch family collected money to plant this oak in Reinartz's long-standing area of activity.
Schongau
- "As a source of shade for the next generations," as Kosian said.
The day was just as Reinartz would have liked for his splash.
Bright sunshine, summery temperatures, but above all the blue shimmering, crystal clear water in the pools.
All chrome parts of the pool and slide were cleaned to a sparkle, the sun loungers lined up, the lawn mowed.
So the guests could come.
Friends from Berlin have many memories in their luggage
And they came.
But different guests than on a "normal" day at the pool.
Reinartz's wife Claudia with son Jan, Mayor Falk Sluyterman, colleagues and employees of the Plantsch and the Wasserwacht as well as friends from Berlin: Everyone who valued Michael Reinartz, a colorful mix and with many memories in their luggage.
Since the number of guests at the funeral was specified due to the Corona regulations, so many friends could not say goodbye this way, Andreas Kosian had the idea of choosing the large outdoor area of the lawn for this very personal farewell.
And it is precisely on this lawn that the “Michaels Oak” was to be unveiled.
His photo is next to his oak tree
Michael Reinartz is in the midst of all the guests at this very personal meeting - not just as a photo in front of his oak tree.
"What are you standing around here, do you have nothing to work?" Would have been one of his casual sayings that Andreas Kosian brings to mind.
But he also does not forget to recall the great merits and above all the great expertise that Michael Reinartz had to demonstrate almost every day in his almost 30 years of working in Schongau's indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
“In the underground technical area in particular, nobody had better specialist knowledge than him.
He knew every pump, every line, every filter, actually every screw, ”says Kosian.
“With him, a lot of knowledge about the technology is lost.
He was present everywhere. "
Toasted Michael Reinartz with a “König Pilsener”
There was only one thing that Michael Reinartz found absolutely no understanding among his colleagues, was downright offensive and had to accept criticism again and again: He loved an after-work beer, a “König Pilsner” from his old homeland.
Nobody understood that.
Until, yes, until the day when the oak was planted, everyone at Reinartz could say goodbye in the Plantsch.
Almost everyone picked up a “König-Pilsner” in order to keep it in eternal memory.
His long-time colleague, sauna and pool attendant Uwe Treutler, went one step further.
While almost all friends said goodbye to Reinartz by pouring water from a sauna ladle while watering the oak, Uwe shares his “König-Pilsener” with the deceased.
He doused the earth above the roots with Reinartz's beloved drink.
HANS-HELMUT HEROLD