High turnout for the last greeting to Willy Naessens: « He always gave the first round and the last » (Wortegem-Petegem)
Lots of people for the last greeting Willy Naessens. – © Het Nieuwsblad
The last greeting to Willy Naessens, who was laid out on Thursday in the Strohoeve in Elsegem, attracts a large crowd. « A rough estimate shows that between 1,000 and 1,500 people have passed by since 12 hours, » said Mayor Luc Vander Meeren of Wortegem-Petegem. The babring lasts until 7 pm.
Hundreds of people came to give the deceased entrepreneur a final greeting. « I really see everyone passing by here: from the ordinary man in the street to people who had clearly prepared themselves in particular, » said Mayor Luc Vander Meeren. « We have provided spacious car parks around the Strohoeve and the traffic is in the right direction by stewards. »
Christiaan Beernaert (77), director of the Flemish Ardennes business center from Oudenaarde, has nothing but praise for Willy Naessens. « I learned a lot from Willy, » he says. « Among other things, that as long as you enjoy doing something, you have to keep doing it. I have a lot of good memories of Willy. I also lose a very good friend. In mind he continues to live anyway. »
Christiaan Beernaert, Director of Business Center Vlaamse Ardennes. – © PD
Group volunteers who helped at Willy Handje events: « We thought he was immortal. » – © PD
« We are going to miss Willy enormously. We really thought he was immortal, » say Sonja van Meerhaeghe and Armand Depoortere from Elsegem, in the name of a group of volunteers. « We led a hand at his events that were not business -related. That was the case, among other things, at Waregem Koerse and at the Sinkenfeesten in Elsegem. Willy was always ready with a word of thanks. »
Marc Bracke and Frank Sallemyn, together with partners, from the Oudenaardse Hoedzilde. – © PD
The Oudenaardse Gilde Hodenaerde, who started Willy Naessens at the time, also signed. « Willy was our honorary chairman. He always gave the first round and also the last, » say Marc Bracke and Frank Sallemyn. « He brought us together and owe a lot to him. Thanks to him we were allowed to enjoy many activities. People like Willy can count you on one hand. We hope that it can remain pleasant in our hat -skinning. »
Veterinarian Johan Beel from Petegem. – © PD
Rik Ottevaere and Michiel Cheyns from the VZW Sneukelfiets Wortegem-Petegem. – © PD
Vet Johan Beel from Petegem worked a lot with Willy Naessens: « I come to bring a final greeting out of respect for those who were Willy. He was a simple person who has always been generous for his staff, associations and the common man. He also supported our Royal Society Sint-Cecilia Wortegem-Petegem. »
After the greeting, many continued to chat at the entrance of the Strohoeve. – © PD
Rik Ottevaere and Michiel Cheyns also know that Willy Naessens supported the local associations all too well. They are respectively chairman and vice-chairman of the VZW Snukelfiets from Wortegem-Petegem, a bicycle project for people with disabilities. « Willy was our big sponsor. We have more than a hundred adapted bicycles and we can store them in his shed, » they say.
Rita Beyaert, honorary mayor of Harelbeke and from Elsegem. – © PD
« A very sweet man, » describes honorary mayor of Harelbeke Rita Beyaert the Elsegem entrepreneur. « My parents were born and raised Elsegemnaren. So I know Willy since childhood. » Etienne Vandevelde from Kortemark also has nothing but good memories of Willy Naessens: « I knew Willy well as an entrepreneur and as a horse friend. He was a very pleasant person, always willing to listen and especially to help. That’s why I wanted to bring him a final greeting. »
Etienne Vandevelde from Kortemark. – © PD
