Funeral of Bandido Schmutzi1%er

Bandidos MC Chapter Bogen was caught up by a terrible nightmare in being witness of losing their Brother Bandido Schmutzi1%er without any chance to save his life. Arriving at his Brothers on Saturday, 14th of September he got off his Harley when all of a sudden fate has cut his thread of life. Despite cardiac massage and rescue breathing by two of his Brothers he departed to the Forever Chapter. He died within his colours and in the arms of his Brothers. May as time goes by our memory of the numerous shared moments of indissoluble Brotherhood prevail over this tragic accident as he hencforward may ride in never ending glorious sunshine side by side with our deceased Brothers.

Then on Friday, 04th of October, Bandido Schmutzi1%er was escorted to his final resting place by several hundreds of Brothers and close friends of various other Clubs as well as of longstanding private connections. Attendants from several countries gave evidence that this day was given tribute to someone very special. Not less remarkable was the funeral ceremony.

The preacher who conducted the service did this in a convincing nonconformist manner that corresponded with the character of the audience, including a toast with Schmutzi´s favorite drink: nut liqueur. The open air service at the local sportcamp area was underlined by the choice of music. While during the time the participants arrived classical pieces had been played, for the service itself were chosen pieces of rock music the departed would have enjoyed.

However the most distinctive feature has been that our Brother wasn´t buried only in a ordinary urn, but in a Harley fuel tank that was painted with Schmutzi´s Club-insignias. This way our Brother made his last earthly ride on the Bike with the Brothers of his Chapter to the cemetary – where his bike stood next to the grave – accompanied by the funeral march with his picture and the wreaths. Bandido Schmutzi was buried while the sound of his Harley Davidsons was roaring.

The President of Bandidos MC Chapter Bogen emphasised in his funeral speech: „This can´t be anything of the sort of just a goodbye and farewell for the reason alone, because we henceforth will regulary visit our Brother at his final resting place. Further I do not want to talk about to confer the so called last respect, for the simple fact that Bandidos MC doesn´t honour his departed Brothers a last time, but honours them constantly“

Funeral oration for Bandido Schmutzi1%er; 04.10.2019

Friends, Brothers,
dear mother of Schmutzi,

beforehand, you won´t hear from me a fanciless enumeration of Schmutzi´s biographical dates. It´s my concern to speak as his Clubbrother, not as a statistician. Only that much: As young man he served as a soldier on the Gorch Foch and later as Sergeant at Arms of Bandidos-Chapter Bogen – this fact alone speaks volumes.

Today we´ve come together to accompany Bandido Schmutzi1%er at his last earthly journey. – Why do I mention that apparent patency and chose this words?

It´s because I do not want to talk about just a goodbye and farewell: on the contrary, we want to keep him with us, especially in our hearts, but also symbolized by memory patches, and of course there´ll be his chair at the table in our future meetings.

At best, however, we will preserve Schmutzi`s spirit by setting the strong points of his character as an example for ourself: Schmutzi first of all took care for his friends and Brothers – always and everywhere. He never put himself first. And exactly that feature is the main contribution of a man making a team strong.

It can´t be anything of the sort of just a goodbye and farewell for the reason alone, because we henceforth will regulary visit our Brother at his final resting place. Further I do not want to talk about to confer the so called last respect, for the simple fact that Bandidos MC doesn´t honour his departed Brothers a last time, but honours them constantly. – The memory party „Dia de los Muertos“ that will take place soon, on 2nd of November in Gelsenkirchen, gives evidence of this custom.

Our Brother spent his last minutes before his death on his Harley Davidson and died in his colours. It may be a consoling idea for us that Schmutzi closed his eyes riding to his Brothers and indeed met Brothers after opening eyes again in Forever Chapter.

As of now Schmutzi is wearing our colours for all eternity – and this fact that he never will shed his colours cannot be without relevance for us. In a sort he makes us discharge our duties! As the same Brothers and friends when our paths has been divided we once want to face him again, without him beeing ashamed of us.

This fellowship was important to him, of such importance that just for meeting his Brothers he often made the efforts of long distances like Stralsund or Italy even if he had to drive back after a few hours, because of a lack of time. You almost could think this small but tough guy needn´t any sleep. – All the more may he rest in peace now!

His joyfulness was overmastering, his helpfulness was legendary and his loyalty by words only simply isn´t to describe.

Every Chapter having lost a longtime Brother knows our pain. However I try to consider this pain as a unit of measurement: this pain is the scale unit of our profound Brotherhood – how could it thus be superficial? Maybe this pain will become more bearable or even some day will prove as a source of power, if we can grasp it as our direct affiliation to our Brother and friend Schmutzi.

Schmutzi was a distinct active nature. Martial arts, motorcycle races, car races; he loved being on the road and in touch with his Brothers as often as possible. Even though fate has wrested him from us much to early, nevertheless we know that he has lived his life and has lived it intensely. He did it his way and did not waste his time! It´s now up to us to live on also for him, the same way he will have an eye on us and take care as he did during his lifetime as our Sergeant at Arms.

The spirit by which we are united doesn´t end by death: Brotherhood – today, tomorrow, forever!