The Accurate Reloading Forums
Louis Bekker - Afton Guest House
03 April 2010, 21:16
Steve Turner - Total Travel SolutionsLouis Bekker - Afton Guest House
It is with a sad heart that I report after a long battle with cancer, Louis Bekker, was taken from us earlier today!
Our hearts and prayers are with his family.-
03 April 2010, 21:24
KathiVery sorry to hear this. Our prayers go out to his family.
Kathi
kathi@wildtravel.net
708-425-3552
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
03 April 2010, 21:39
RBHuntWe lost another good one. It was a pleasure to have known him and shared his hospitality.
03 April 2010, 21:44
BOWHUNRFarewell my friend. You fought a noble battle. For many of us here, a piece of Africa died as well. Our prayers to Annelise and the family.
Mike
NEVER BOOK A HUNT WITH JEFF BLAIR AT BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING!
03 April 2010, 21:48
Mad DogMy condolences to the family.
Mad Dog
03 April 2010, 22:45
GunsCoreHe fought long and hard. RIP with prayers to his family.
STAY IN THE FIGHT!
03 April 2010, 23:10
JudgeGLouis was my friend. Come this September, I'll be back at Afton Guest House, but it never will be the same.
God speed to your new home, Brother and may Grace give your family peace.
Louis and his wife saw a need and with lots of hard work and a lifetime's experience in the airline industry ran a place where Africaphiles could feel comfortable and safe while traveling to and from their dreams.
JudgeG ... just counting time 'til I am again finding balm in Gilead chilled out somewhere in the Selous.
03 April 2010, 23:37
bwanamrmMy condolences as well!
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
03 April 2010, 23:57
N E 450 No2My condolences to the family.
Louis was a good guy.
I always enjoyed visiting with him.
DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
04 April 2010, 00:01
JERSEY BOBVERY sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to meeting him this July. It sounds like I missed a big part of the experience by not shaking his hand.
I got a very nice note from Annelise a few weeks back confirming that they had not sold out and were still in business. I'll be sending her a brief note of condolence.
Bob
While having stayed at Afton House, I never met Louis. However, he was a legend in the industry. He will be missed.
"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
04 April 2010, 08:37
LionHunterLouis was really one of the good guys. If weapons went astray, he was always on it. He even helped folks who weren't guests with "redirected" weapons.
Condolences to Annaliese and the family; RIP Louis
Mike
______________
DSC
DRSS (again)
SCI Life
NRA Life
Sables Life
Mzuri
IPHA
"To be a Marine is enough."
04 April 2010, 10:02
Luis L.Wow - I'm very sorry to hear this. The one and only time I used his company was for my first safari a few weeks back. The service was great and I will use them again in the future. My condolences to the family.
04 April 2010, 18:43
bcolyerLouis was my friend. Louis was, and still is, one of God's jewels. IF LOUIS HAD BEEN THE INN KEEPER IN BETHLEHEM THOSE MANY LONG YEARS AGO......BABY JESUS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BORN IN A STABLE. LOUIS WOULD HAVE FOUND ROOM....as he ALWAYS did for me. My entire family send our condolences to Anneliese and family.
04 April 2010, 18:51
Nitro ExpressAnother offer of condolences--Afton House took good care of my son and me when we stopped over on the way to Zim.
LTC, USA, RET
Benefactor Life Member, NRA
Member, SCI & DSC
Proud son of Texas A&M, Class of 1969
"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning
04 April 2010, 19:08
Use Enough GunVery sorry to hear of Louis' passing. I considered him a friend and enjoyed my conversations with him when staying at Afton House. My sincerest condolences to all of his family, including his lovely daughter here in the states.
04 April 2010, 19:42
Cazador humildeAn excellent host and a man of faith has crossed over. I pray I have his kind of courage when the time comes.
04 April 2010, 20:27
butchlocthis is a great loss not only to the hunting community but to the world as well. there are few enough good men ion earth and louis was one of them
04 April 2010, 20:29
Idaho Sharpshooterwe are diminished...
I will be staying there Friday night. It will be a sad time.
Rich
05 April 2010, 00:12
nampomReally sorry to hear, my condolences with the family. RIP.
I worried as I left there in September, I might not get to see him again. He's truly one of a kind, and the world is a lesser place without him.
Condolences to his family and all those around him who loved him.
05 April 2010, 01:34
GunsCoreAny info on the funeral? I would like to send flowers.
STAY IN THE FIGHT!
05 April 2010, 02:27
elk88101Can't say enough about Louis I met him about 12 years ago what a great guy. Prayed at his bedside the last time I was there.Like I have said before he was truely part of everyones African experience.Prayers to the family.
Larry
New Mexico
05 April 2010, 04:44
Aspen Hill AdventuresVery sorry to hear, my condolences.
~Ann
05 April 2010, 07:32
GraftonRIP Louis. My thoughts are with the family.
"Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees."
- Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
05 April 2010, 19:44
WoodmnctryVery sorry to hear of his passing -- he truly was a great gentleman and a huge asset to our travels.
Regards
G
OMG!-- my bow is "pull-push feed" - how dreadfully embarrasing!!!!!
05 April 2010, 20:33
CBNHNTRMy family and I are saddened to hear of his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Warmest regards,
M Diaz
06 April 2010, 00:17
Dawn PatrolJust a short message from Afton...
Thanks to all our guests and friends for the messages, phone calls, e-mails, etc. It is much appreciated!
Information about Louis' funeral will be posted here within the next 24 hours.
Thanks again
06 April 2010, 00:53
matt uMy condolances go out to the family of this fine gentleman.
09 April 2010, 08:35
Use Enough GunGood night old cowboy. I know that you are up there with your favorite Afrikaans Country Western Singer, Jim Reeves, ridin' the range. RIP.
Rest in peace.
It is time for Louis to have a place to rest.
Thanks to him for giving us a place to feel safe and rest.
What a legacy he has, he is known by many from all over the world for kindness, courtesy and graciosness.
That we could all leave such a legacy......the world would be a much greater place.
09 April 2010, 23:16
Dawn PatrolAnnelise would like to thank each and every one for all the flowers, the e-mails, the messages, the phone calls, the postings... It is really much appreciated!
It is really unbelievable to realize how wide accross the world Louis has made an impact! He was one of a kind and a real Legend!
Regards and love to all
The Afton-family
25 April 2010, 10:07
Idaho SharpshooterI stayed at Afton House Wednesday night. I had the opportunity to visit with Annelise and convey our condolences. She and Louis are Christians, and her faith has sustained her. She said that they have been busy with bookings, and that has helped pass the time.
They are entirely booked for the soccer season, with hunters!
2010 has been the best year for bookings in a while.
Rich
25 April 2010, 10:25
Luis L.That's fantastic to hear. In all of this heartbreak, at the very least her business is doing great. They did a wonderful job for ,me a month or so back, with permit expediting and I'm sure they will again when I head back in a year or so.
27 April 2010, 18:08
h kittleI first stayed at the Afton in 2007 and again in 2009. I met us at the airport in 2007 and was a great help. Unfortunately he was not feeling weel in 2009 and I did not get to see him. He was a wonderful host. He will be missed. My condolences to the family.