An Obituary for Ko Wietje

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:2-3, KJV

Ko Wietje, as I knew him, was also known as Gatot Soendjojo or by his childhood name, Dite. He was a man full of life. He was born in the small city of Purwokerto, but he raised beyond his boundary and, as some may say, conquered the world.

I have to admit that he is one of my idols among our relatives. He is a successful businessman, blessed with a beautiful wife and 3 children. But, what most people admire from him is his free spirit. His hobby is motocross and off road trekking. He likes to venture deep into thick jungles and distant valleys, ready to conquer them with his ATV or motorcross. Although he is accustomed to a comfortable and luxurious life in Jakarta, he was never afraid to let it all go when he starts his adventure into the wilderness. Taking a decent bath in the river or warding-off moquitos while sleeping could not restrain him from his free spirit. Once he told he that at one time, he and his friends have got a sudden craving for tempe mendoan from his hometown in Purwokerto. They then decided to to go Purwokerto, at 02:00 am, riding their Harley Davidsons, just in time to have tempe mendoan breakfast in Purwokerto. What a spirit! Even the pastor, while delivering an obituary during the last Mass, admitted that he felt like a ‘real man’ when he was with Ko Wietje.

It was a great pity that this exuberant person was faced with the bitter reality of liver cancer in August last year. Then, in a mere 6 months, the cancer attack was so hard that he could barely keep a straight face. My last encounter with him in a relatively good condition was in December, when our family attended Soendjojo family’s Christmas celebration in Bandung. Then, finally, after months of agony and pain due to the overwhelming cancer, Ko Wietje died at the age of 50 in February 10th, 2004.

His death has put me into a sudden still. I don’t like to boast, but I share a bit of his free spirit. Against all odds, I also like to venture into the wilderness, trekking in a foreign island, discovering beautiful beaches along the coasts of Indonesia. I too, will not hesitate to leave all the comfort of living in a big city for a mere chance to have a glympse of the vast savannah in Sumba. To me, and I guess also to Ko Wietje, all of these seem to be a small price to pay compared to the freedom that we felt. Well, witnessing the tragic death of Ko Wietje made me wonder – will I also end my adventures in the world as he did?

Then something stroke me. I don’t know how I will die. I also don’t want to know. I am sure that Lord has planned something beautiful for my life, no matter how it will end. But one thing is for sure – I sure am going to live like him!

Farewell, Ko Wietje. May the good Lord bless the grieving family and loveones who were left in this world. May they, I, and everyone else, carry around you free spirit in our lifes!