Couple die hours apart

REDDERSBURG – It was described as a tale of true love – the story of a Free State couple who were inseparable after 54 years of marriage – and who even died within hours of each other.

Pikkie, 80 and Koekie de Beer, 76, lived in the Reddersrus Retirement Home for seven years and they were like a real life Romeo and Juliet. Pikkie died early on Wednesday evening, while Koekie died on Thursday morning.A memorial service was held for them at the weekend.Johanette de Beer, their daughter-in-law, said they were very close.”We always wondered what the one would do when the other one died.My mother-in-law once said she couldn’t face the possibility of being without her husband.It was lucky that she died so soon after grandfather Pikkie.”They were married for 54 years.”Pikkie developed severe stomach ache on Wednesday and died in hospital on Wednesday evening.Koekie, who had received the news of her husband’s death on the same evening, died in her son’s house the next morning.”My mother-in-law had a stroke a long time ago and grandpa Pikkie was a pillar of support for her.The evening after she had heard about his death, she didn’t say anything about not feeling well.””The next morning she got up, but later just closed her eyes and died.We called an ambulance, and it was confirmed that she had had a stroke.”Pikkie was well remembered for his sense of humour and the stories he told.The couple was survived by their son, Jan and his wife, and two daughters, Alda Franke and Stefanie van der Walt and their husbands and seven grandchildren.VolksbladPikkie died early on Wednesday evening, while Koekie died on Thursday morning.A memorial service was held for them at the weekend.Johanette de Beer, their daughter-in-law, said they were very close.”We always wondered what the one would do when the other one died.My mother-in-law once said she couldn’t face the possibility of being without her husband.It was lucky that she died so soon after grandfather Pikkie.”They were married for 54 years.”Pikkie developed severe stomach ache on Wednesday and died in hospital on Wednesday evening.Koekie, who had received the news of her husband’s death on the same evening, died in her son’s house the next morning.”My mother-in-law had a stroke a long time ago and grandpa Pikkie was a pillar of support for her.The evening after she had heard about his death, she didn’t say anything about not feeling well.””The next morning she got up, but later just closed her eyes and died.We called an ambulance, and it was confirmed that she had had a stroke.”Pikkie was well remembered for his sense of humour and the stories he told.The couple was survived by their son, Jan and his wife, and two daughters, Alda Franke and Stefanie van der Walt and their husbands and seven grandchildren.Volksblad