‘The Lord gives and He takes away’ – RIP Brigadier Andreas Roelof van Ellinckhuyzen
André van Ellinckhuyzen Sr was a career police officer for more than 30 years, who also served his country on the borders and in Rhodesia.
Avid local historian, André van Ellinckhuyzen is well-known for the thorough way he delves into the deep history of Vryheid and its people.
Recently however, van Ellinckhuyzen has found himself tasked with writing about a subject heartbreakingly close to home, as he put pen to paper to honour and commemorate the life and passing of his own father, André van Ellinckhuyzen Snr, who died peacefully on July 21 following a long battle with illness.
“André van Ellinckhuyzen is aan hierdie wereld gegee op 26 April, 1939, te Dundee, en op 21 Julie, 2019, het God se Engele hom kom haal op Richardsbaai,” wrote André.
André van Ellinckhuyzen Sr was a career police officer for more than 30 years, who also served his country on the borders and in Rhodesia.
On February 9, 1963, André married high school sweetheart, Anna in Dundee. He was a loving and devoted father to their three children – Annalie, André and Annique – and a devoted grandfather to eight grandchildren as well as two great-grandchildren.
“André, or Oom André for many was well-known and loved by each and every person he touched. What my father taught us, by example, is that all on earth are equal, none better nor more important than the other. It is unfortunate that Brigadier van Ellinckhuyzen was forced into early retirement, as a result of the illness which would eventually take his life.”
He added, “Mom and Annique had the privilege to be at Dad’s side when his soul parted the earth. I, Annalie and others were with him in the week before his passing. Pa wou huis toe. Hy’t die heel tyd vir ma gesé, “Kom ons ry” en, “André is n sterk man, hy sal my kan dra”. Maar op die reis waarop pa hom nou bevind, totdat hy veilig aan God se voete sal wees, kan nie ek, Ma of iemand hier nou saam nie. Dit is nie nou ons tyd nie. Op 21 Julie, 2019, om 7.15vm was dit jou tyd, my Pappa – ons is lief vir jou.”
On behalf of the entire Ellinckhuyzen family, he said, “Aan elke mens wat ons pa se lewe gekruis het, elke een wat omgee, elke een wat gebel het, hulp aangebied het en gegee het, die nederige dank van die van Ellinckhuyzen gesin. God het gegee, en God het geneem.”
Also read: Mystery solved – Local man unearths story behind grave garden discovery in Vryheid
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