Status: 09.11.2023, 19:00 PM
By: Friedbert Holz
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Johann Ertl has died at the age of 90. © Private
The pig farmer, club chairman and family man Johann Ertl leaves a lasting legacy in Großhündlbach.
Großhündlbach – Only recently he had celebrated his 90th birthday with his large relatives (we reported), but now farmer Johann Ertl has died very quickly surrounded by his loved ones. In addition to his wife Anneliese (76), the well-known and very successful pig farmer leaves behind his five children Irmgard, Angela, Johannes, Elisabeth and Susanne as well as seven grandchildren.
Ertl grew up together with four other siblings in Großhündlbach, of whom only his sister Zenta, who is four years younger, still lives in Niederding. He attended elementary school in nearby Rappoltskirchen, then went to the agricultural school in Erding. Even as a young man, he became chairman of the rural youth, a position he held for many years.
His father died when Johann was 22 years old, and from then on he ran his parents' farm together with his mother and sister Zenta. In doing so, he gave up dairy farming and concentrated on pig breeding. It must have been a difficult time for him, during which he had to bear great responsibility for the family. In 1963 he passed the examination to become a master farmer and was appointed to the examination board.
Through pig farming, he had also met and fallen in love with his wife Anneliese, who worked in the office of the breeding association in Munich, and the two married in 1972. The marriage produced five children, and his widow still lives on the farm together with her son Johannes.
"His opinion and extensive knowledge were always in great demand," Anneliese Ertl remembers fondly. A farmer with heart and soul, he took care of his pigeons until the end, which he also bred, and cared for the sheep on the farm with great commitment. And he was active in many other functions: from 1966 to 1974 he sat on the council of the municipality of Thalheim, from 1974 to 1990 on the municipal council of Fraunberg.
In 1987, Johann Ertl was awarded the Municipal Certificate of Appreciation for his services to the community, and he was awarded the Citizen's Medal. In addition, he took care of the needs of the Rappoltskirchen church for almost 50 years, where he was chairman of the parish council and church caretaker for a long time. For 22 years he was chairman of the Thalheim hunting cooperative, as well as a member of the Waldesruh Rappoltskirchen shooting club and the warrior and soldier club. For a long time, he also held the office of chairman of the pig breeders' association.
When he celebrated his 90th birthday in May, he expressed the wish to be able to see the famous Wieskirche again. In fact, he let his wife, five children and son-in-law accompany him there and enjoyed an unforgettable day for him.
The family will sorely miss their husband, father and grandfather on the next trips together. Granddaughter Luisa, just four years old, once said to her grandfather Johann: "When you are in heaven, please look where St. Nicholas has his presents and throw them down to me. Then he doesn't have to come to me anymore."