By Karl Keim and Matthias Lukashevich
A demolished motorcycle lies on the asphalt of federal highway 299 near Altötting (Bavaria). Minutes earlier, Pastor Frank Gehrmann from Luckau was sitting on the machine.
The drama happened on June 24th: A BMW driver apparently overlooks the 60-year-old and gives him the right of way when turning left. Family father Gehrmann can no longer brake and dodge.
The pastor is thrown from the machine and critically injured. The emergency doctor can do nothing for him. The priest dies on the street in Bavaria.
Motorcycle pastor Frank Gehrmann (60) on his machine at the vicarage Photo: Anja Brautschek/Lausitzer Rundschau
Bitter: The preacher was known in the Spreewald region around his parish for church services and devotions for bikers. He was considered the “motorcycle pastor” of Luckau.
Since 2003, Gehrmann has also organized motorcycle services in southern Brandenburg. The father of five children has been a passionate biker since his youth.
“Motorcycling is fun for me,” he once said. “And I would like to pass on this joy.” In GDR times, Gehrmann, who comes from Lübben, was still on the road on a Simson. After German reunification, machines became heavier and faster.
The BMW after the accident – you can clearly see: The priest crashed into the passenger side on the right Photo: MK/FIB
When the accident happened, Gehrmann was on vacation. He was on a vacation tour down south.
First, the “Märkische Oderzeitung” reported on the drama. The pastor leaves behind his wife Annegret and their five children.
His parish was the regional parish in Langengrassau, a district of Luckau (10,341 inhabitants). Here he lived in a beautiful parsonage – with a view of the fieldstone church.
Gehrmann preaching – he had been a pastor in Langengrassau near Luckau since 1989 Photo: Evangelical rectory Langengrassau
Gehrmann came here with his wife Annegret in 1987. The two met in Berlin. In 1989 he became pastor of Langengrassau.
How many baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals did the pastor experience in 32 years? There must have been countless numbers.
In his parish office he also organized community festivals, the church cinema and theater in the church.
The sympathetic motorcycle pastor will be buried in Paserin (Luckau) on Saturday.
