He married our beautiful Aunt

 Icke family, 1997
By Jean Margaret Icke, Houston, Texas, USA
Written in 1992, for Hans' 80th birthday party

I can remember your wedding at Brakfontein. I wish I could say I was only one year old then, but I can’t. Judy was there too, as I recall, and we were so inquisitive about who you were, where you cam from, and why you wanted to marry our beautiful aunt, who’d been a Wool Queen.

We’d no idea what that was, but we knew it was pretty special and important. We called you 'Hans', asked millions of questions, and probably drove you nuts.

Your wedding took place dangerously near our favourite place of play - the leidammetjie where we spent most of our waking hours catching crabs.

I remember all the adults labouring away beautifying the wedding area with mimosa. Granny Jack and Auntie Hazel especially, bustling around. I don’t recall too much of the actual wedding ceremony, except that Auntie Jessie looked lovely in pale yellow, carrying gladiolus and perhaps wearing a small hat trimmed with tulle.

By this time I was far more interested in the dogs wanting to be in the wedding photograph - or perhaps they were invited - whatever - you didn’t seem to be too keen on those dogs, Uncle Hans.

I only have very vague memories of your Pinelands house. Julia was a baby then and we older cousins were not allowed to wake her, but it seemed to us that she slept a great deal. She was so cute and we wanted to play with her.

You and your compost heap! We had to stand well back and of course were not to interfere while you explained why compost heaps were so important and why they needed special care. I wasn’t aware then of taking any of this information, but it helped to while away the time.

It wasn’t until we had a house in Australia that I found myself discussing a "good compost heap" with Don. I don’t think I’ve ever quite forgiven him for his utter disinterest in the subject.

My most favourite memory of you, Uncle Hans, happened while we were out driving in your car one day. I don’t remember if you were living in Pinelands of Rondebosch at the time and it really doesn’t matter. Besides yourself there was Auntie Jessie, Julia, Paul and myself in the car. Carl had not been born yet.

Anyway, either Julia or Paul asked you why you had married their Mother. A slow smile crept across your face and you said "A long time ago I made up my mind to marry the very best and the most beautiful girl in the world and just when I thought I’d never find her - I met your Mother."

Both your children’s faces simply glowed with happienes and pride, and Aunt Jessie, blushing a little, smiled happily too.

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