Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.07.1991, Blaðsíða 5

Eulogy
Soren Johann
Pjetur Tergesen
(1960 -1991)
The Tergesen family has been an
inseparable part of the Gimli commu-
nity for 92 years, as merchants and
community leaders. I find it symbolic
that Mr. Hans Pjetur Tergesen, who
came to Gimli in 1899, should have
been the first person to put up an out-
side light in Gimli T own. That light is in
front of the Tergesen store.
The Tergesens have been merchants
and community leaders from way back
in Iceland. One of the older buildings,
a landmark in Old Reykjavík, was built
by one of the earlier generations of
Tergesens. The H. P. Tergesen store
and building here in Gimli is also a
landmark.
My first introduction to the store
and the Tergesens was in the early 70’s.
At that time Sven Johann (J oe) Tergesen
and his wife Lara operated the store as
they had done for many decades, with
unwavering dedication — they did not
miss a day. I enjoyed my many visits to
the store.
It did not escape anyone that they
had a real concem for the store’s fu-
ture. They knew the time would come
when they could no longer tend to the
store. Changes were needed to meet
the demands of the day.
Joe and Lara had raised two sons
that both became professionals, each
in his own field. They discussed their
hopes that some of the grandchildren
might take an interest in the store, un-
derstanding, though, that the world out-
side Gimli had a lot to offer. They were
certainly not expecting them to choose
the store, with it’s demanding hours, as
their live’s work.
In 1982, their grandson, Soren
Johann Pjetur, started working in the
store and it soon became apparent
that the grandparents liked what
they saw. This young man had the rare
ability to communicate with old as
well as young. He was the same, well-
mannered person to everyone. I recall
many praises by Joe and Lara and I
know that Joe, after he was less able
to serve the customers himself, sat
back and watched, approving of
the young man’s treatment of the
center of the worS^
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Lögbérg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 26. júlí 1991 • 5
customers. Here was the future. Here
was a Tergesen with a feeling for
the store in his blood. The light was
rekindled. It was again buming.
It was a great pleasure to watch
Soren over the years. He was not a
person that expected to rebuild in a
day. He made it happen over a
period of time. He thought things
out, tried new things, and had a
very keen eye for what might work.
This can of course not be done
without the co-operation of others. I
know of very few that can walk into
a dealership in this day and age and
basically get what they want. Soren
had the ability to gain people’s tmst
and he was a breath of fresh air to
the suppliers. One day he walked
into the showrooms of the Puma
dealership, a visit that proved to be
the cornerstone for rebuilding the
store’s operations. Many a person
would have been intimidated by the
name alone, Puma being so very well
known. But not Soren, it was as
natural to him to approach them as it
was putting on a pair of socks. He
got what he wanted, and the rebuild-
ing had started. He was pleased, and,
I hope, proud — he should have been.
After this visit, and visits to a few
others, suppliers started to come to
him. The word was out. Here was
someone worth visiting. This is a sign
of a successful merchant.
The store started to look different
without losing its original feeling.
New things were tried, most worked,
few did not, and that is the way it
goes. But none of this changed Soren,
he was still the same, treating young
and old with the same evenness as
always. An exceptional man doing
what he was well suited for, whether
it may have been his first love or
not. He had other interests which he
pursued as hobbies. It is interwoven
though, it is all art, you need to be
an artist to do the things Soren did
in the years he ran the store.
I followed with interest when
Soren ran for a seat on Town Council.
He did not win, but it showed the
community interest. I know he
evaluated the experience, he had no
resentments and I am sure he would
have run again, and won.
We have all lost with the passing
of Soren, especially the family and,
of course, little Kol most of all;
the friends; and the community be-
cause the future of every community
lies in the ones that are dedicated
to service. We have lost a little of
the future, for we will not benefit
from the work Soren would have
accomplished. I challenge the young
people of this community to become
involved. Do what Soren did, be
interested, give of yourself, be active
in the affairs of Gimli, be active in
the affairs of Manitoba, and be active
in the affairs of this wonderful land,
Canada. Do that, take up the banner
in the name of Soren Tergesen.
It is with heavy heart that we
say goodbye to our friend Soren. He
will live in all of us until our dying
day, and that is well. He will be
remembered as it says in Hávamál
from the Elder Edda:
Deyr fé,
Deyja frændr,
Deyr Sjálfr et sama.
Ek veit einu,
At aldri deyr
Domr of dauðan hvern.
It means that livestock dies, fríends
and relatives die, one self dies, but
one’s reputation never dies.
I would like to read the first verse
of a hymn by Hallgrímur Pétursson.
This hymn is used at most if not all
memorial and funeral services in
Iceland, and has been for hundreds
of years. It likens life to a flower
growing on flat land, and how
suddenly it can perish.
Allt eins og blómstrið eina
upp vex á sléttri grund,
Fagurt með frjóvgun hreina,
fyrst um dags morgunstund,
á snöggu augabragði
afskorið verður fjótt,
lit og blöð niður lagði,
líf mannlegt endar skjótt.
I have long admired the way
the Tergesen family has worked
together. Soren’s parents, Terry and
Lorna have stood behind the
operation for years. It is not often
that one comes to the store and
does not find at least one of the
Tergesens in. That is why the store
will continue. That is why Soren’s
work will still show for years to
come. The family will pull together,
another Tergesen will step forward.
The light will keep burning in front
of the Tergesen store.
Birgir Brynjólfsson
LUNDAR
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