Horst Gerner died completely unexpectedly on Saturday night after a medical emergency. He had been SP mayor in the market town of Mauerkirchen in the Braunau district since 2015. The 56-year-old was considered a respected mayor, friend and companion far beyond the community boundaries.
“The news was a shock for me, it ripped the rug from under my feet. I can’t believe it. Horst was a colleague and friend. If you agreed something with him, then that was right. I have a lot of his handshake quality valued,” says Erich Rippl, SP mayor in Lengau and long-standing member of the state parliament.
The last milestone in Gerner’s political work is the renovation of the swimming pool built in the 1970s. Despite the inefficiency, Gerner campaigned vehemently for it to be preserved and renewed. As a school location and for the entire region, leisure activities are important, he emphasized in the OÖN interview at the time.
With Gerner, the market community unexpectedly loses its mayor for the second time in a row. In April 2015, his predecessor, Mayor Dietmar “Didi” Vlach, suffered a heart attack at the age of 61. At that time, Horst Gerner had already been involved in municipal politics for a long time. As deputy mayor at the time, he was elected mayor by the municipal council.
“Horst Gerner was always an inspiration during his lifetime. Honest and direct in conversation at all times, he was never afraid to address problems, regardless of who faced him. His spontaneous incendiary speeches to shake up and motivate will remain unforgettable,” shared the SPÖ Braunau with. Regional dean and Mauerkirchen pastor, Gert Smetanig, mourns the deceased: “Horst was not just a good friend, but a mayor with a heart, and he always had an open ear for the concerns of fellow citizens.”
The deceased leaves behind a wife and two children, was a member of numerous local clubs – for example he was an enthusiastic firefighter – and received various awards.
The funeral service will take place on Thursday, March 10, at 2 p.m. in the parish church of Mauerkirchen.
Source: Nachrichten
