GEORGE NEWS - He died a beloved husband, father-to-be, brother and son, and left a legacy his wife will carry forward to their unborn child.
Johannes Nicolaas (Nicolus) van Eeden, a former Oakdale learner from Little Brak River, tragically passed away in the recent wildfires that devastated parts of western North Dakota in the USA last weekend. Another person was hospitalised with critical injuries. Emergency services battled several large wildfires across the county from Friday through Sunday with an estimated 25 000 acres (about 101km²) destroyed.
Nicolus (26), who worked at Wolla Farm and Ranch, died in the hospital of smoke inhalation following the wildfires that ravaged the area.
It is believed that he was driving home from work when he became engulfed in a thick cloud of smoke. The intensity of the smoke caused his vehicle to stall, forcing him to leave it in an attempt to escape. Shortly afterwards he came across a state trooper patrolling the area.
He got into the official's vehicle and was rushed to hospital. Despite their efforts, Nicolus tragically succumbed to smoke inhalation. He had no burn injuries.
His family received the heartbreaking news of his passing on Sunday 6 October. The last time his wife Anke spoke to him was at midnight on Saturday, which was around 17:00 in Dakota.
Nicolus married his soul-mate and the love of his life about eight months ago. At that stage, Anke worked as a sales consultant at George Herald. The beautiful couple's firstborn, a little girl, is set to arrive in mid-November.
Nicolus and Anke on their wedding day.
Nicolus would have returned home about a week before the birth to be with his family. Their joy was shared by all who knew them.
Counting the days
"We were counting down the days. He was so excited and couldn't wait to meet his little girl. He was the best human ever and would've been the best dad on the planet," said Anke while being comforted on the couch in their lounge by her brother Neil and her parents Helena and Johan Kapp.
"He was my best friend and my biggest supporter - no matter what I did - he was my soulmate and we miss him tremendously. He leaves a big deep hole and I don't know how, but we will carry on. I can't find the words to describe what a wonderful man he was. There is no one else like him," she said.
A message from his father
Nicolus' father, Johan van Eeden, wrote a touching message to his son on Facebook. "Yesterday morning, we received a call that no parent should ever receive."
"My son, you were a man in a million. You and Anke loved each other deeply. I couldn't wait to see you with your child. Our dreams lie shattered today, but we know we will rise again. Today, you are in Jesus' arms. Thank you for the son you were. You always made us proud."
His family has requested privacy to deal with their grief and profound loss.
His in-laws loved him
Anke's family all loved Nicolus and accepted them as their son and brother. They have only fond memories to share of the man who loved their daughter more than anything else - with his father-in-law's lamb shank and his brother-in-law's chicken schnitzel in close second place.
"He was a good man. He was like my other son and there was not a bad bone in his body. People always only say nice things about others at funerals, but I honestly can't find anything negative to say about him. He was the best thing that ever happened to my daughter. He was a good man who never hesitated to do good for others," said Johan, wiping away the tears.
Emergency services battled the raging fire in the area. Photo: Staff Sergeant Leif Anderson of the North Dakota National Guard.
He even impressed his mother-in-law. "From the day he walked through that door, I knew he was the one for Anke. He was a caring person with so much love in him. He had a great sense of humour and was always up for a joke. He fit into the family like a glove. He could never give enough, and he adored children. Everyone loved him - he was an absolute blessing. He will always be my child, no matter where he is," said Helena.
Two years ago he dressed up as the first real Father Christmas that his niece had ever seen. "He always put everyone else's needs above his own and gave his best for my sister. You always want the best for your sister, and he was it," said Neil.
To Nicolus, from Anke
On Monday morning, a devastated Anke posted this heart-breaking message in Afrikaans to her husband on Facebook:
"My liefste man, Nicolus Van Eeden. Gister het my wêreld inmekaargesak toe ek moes hoor jy is nie meer hier nie, jy kom nie huis toe nie... niks in hierdie lewe kon my voorberei vir die seerste seer wat ek al ooit moes hoor nie.
"Jy was en sal VIR EWIG my beste maatjie, soulmate en die liefde van my lewe wees. Ek verstaan nie hoekom nie, en ek het 'n miljoen vrae! Hoekom jy? Hoekom so vroeg?
Jy het soooo baie uitgesien om jou dogtertjie te ontmoet en net nog drie weke dan was jy by die huis. Niks maak meer vir my sin nie! Ek sukkel.
"Ek belowe ek sal vir sussie grootmaak soos jy wou gehad het en haar elke dag vertel van die wonderlikste man, vriend en broer wat jy was. Ek sal haar vertel van die mees amazingste pappa wat sy het en dat hy elke dag by haar is.
"Ek gaan haar elke dag jou foto's wys!" reads part of the message.
The couple during their honeymoon in Mauritius.
He was a great colleague
In a video interview with Jacques Nel, one of Nicolus' colleagues, on the Dakotan news website KFYRTV.com, he is remembered as a man with a big work ethic and an even bigger heart.
"He was one of those guys who always wanted to put in the hours, the time, and the effort to get the job done. Even when I tried to slack he would tell me, 'No man, let's do this'. He was my support on this side. Now that he is gone, it's tough, you know. It's not easy," said Nel.
A memorial service will be held for Nicolus at 15 Foundry Street on Saturday 12 October at 11:00.
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