It was 4am the 4th of June 2009, a cold winters morning, when 78 year old Dr Johan Meyer started his hour and a half journey from Parys to Johannesburg. One of many but sadly his last. Fifteen minutes later a truck driver driving a huge white refrigeration truck drove half on the other side of the oncoming traffic. He so met and collided with Dr Johan Meyer and left Dr Johan Meyer and his little white Hyundai Getz almost unrecognizable. Dr Johan Meyer died on impact.
Dr Johan Meyer was a great man, and now a legend. Learned. He had 4 degrees and almost 40 diplomas in law. He was an advocate, a researcher and an author. He devoted his last years in creating a law compendium for South Africa. He never stopped working, his mind too active, always seeking more knowledge and more insight. He was a widower who never stopped loving and missing his late wife. He was a father of four children and he had a special intimate name for each of them. He was a keen gardener, landscaper and could name plants by their Latin Name. He was physical active till his last day and instrumental in assisting his son to become a known National and International race walker. Most of all he loved God and studied the Word daily in search of knowing God more.
I knew this great man. He was there in my formative years and taught me my first words. He taught me the value of music and we sang together many times. He taught me how to pray and how to love God. He taught me how to appreciate nature and God’s creation. Together we spend many hours debating intellectual matters and sharing each others views on almost everything. He protected me from those wanting to hurt me. He was to me an example of how to truly be great in this life. He was my father, my daddy. This just a tribute to the greatest man I have ever known, the greatest man that ever lived – Dr Johan Meyer, my father, my daddy! I will miss you.
