Tribute

I would like to tell you a story about an amazing human being, who had to leave this earth way too soon and in an extremely unfair way. Ralf wasn’t just my husband, my MIP (most important person), or my soul mate, he was the most compassionate, dedicated, loyal, and strong person I have ever met. Warrior comes to mind, considering how he pivoted to plans B, C, and D when life took something vital from him, piece by piece, against all odds. When we first met, he was a “lone wolf” with a kind heart, often too much of an introvert to connect to people and uncomfortable in large crowds at times. I like to think that I helped him over the years to come out of his shell to be seen as the special person he truly was. But even before me, he has touched several lives in a meaningful and lasting way, for instance: his first love where they ended up being part of each other’s formative years; a student who needed support to steer her life to a better destination; a landlord, who became a close friend as he helped raise her adopted girls for many years; a fellow German, with whom he shared the love for flying; and a loyal partner in crime, who became one of his best friends while figuring out how to survive in the Florida wilderness during those impressive bike packing events - just to name a few. That was true even after he was diagnosed with an extremely rare, terminal cancer. I mean, who gets cancer of the appendix and then develops peritoneal carcinomatosis? That was in 2019, and he was given 6 months initially, with very limited treatment options. But did that stop him? Absolutely NOT! He underwent a long, brutal procedure: cytoreductive debulking and HIPEC (a wash-out with hot chemo over two hours). And he continued to live and fight for 5 more years, while always finding ways to work out, bicycle through the woods, and paddleboard, just to name a few. He cared deeply, he loved nature, he loved movement, and he loved life. I have no idea how many animals he has saved over the years, but I can say with confidence that many, many tortoises, turtles, spiders, birds, dogs, reptiles, and several other critters survived because of him. This includes our furry son, Ponce, who was our everything for many years until he passed away - ironically the same year that Ralf was first diagnosed. Ralf was the definition of dedication, perseverance, and love for life. Despite a healthy lifestyle and good habits, he got this rare, untreatable cancer. And even the only potential “cure”, immunotherapy, caused severe side effects, leading to his premature death. But Ralf was special, and even in the end, he donated his body to make this world a better place. I hope I was able to convey his priceless contributions and share his inspirational love for life - no matter what. I love and miss you so much, my MIP!

Friends & Family

Iris (Appi) Appenrodt-Jenne (wife,) Karin Jenne (mother,) Arnd Jenne (brother,) Karla Jenne (niece,) Lore and Walter Schlotz (aunt and uncle,) Jurgen & Taiba (cousin and girlfriend,) Evelyn Appenrodt-Kalweit (mother-in-law,) Karl-Heinz Kalweit (father-in-law)