On Monday, September 8th, 2025, we received the news from Dirk Mittenbühler, TuS Oggersheim, that our honorary member Gunter Höpfner died in the hospital on the last Thursday (04.09.2025) after 2 strokes.
The funeral service will take place on September 26, 2025 at 12 p.m. in the mourning hall in Oggersheim.
Gunter was 90 years old (born June 5, 1935) and the 7th DANs (since 11/2006). He was certainly one of the formative figures of the association – and from this “first” generation, all judoka now only live in our memory.
I was the focus of applying for the 8th Dan for Gunter – unfortunately I was too slow.
Gunter was an active judoka since 1954 passes were only introduced in 1957. He was active in several clubs: 1. JC Frankenthal, 1. JC Ludwigshafen, PSV Ludwigshafen and since 1987 in TuS Oggersheim. He was a trainer in Oggersheim, until a few years ago – and examiner. Until the end, Gunter advised the judoka with higher graduations during the kata in training from the matt edge.
Gunter has been a member of the Honorary Council in the association for many years – and before that in many other functions.
I personally saw him last JiC Ludwigshafen at the anniversary celebration of JJC Ludwigshafen on JJC Ludwigshafen. His death fills me with deep grief. My condolences apply to his family.
For me, Gunter was always an example of friendly authority, indestructible clarity and great willingness to help. For many other judoka, too, Gunter is remembered than this person. He was a competent judoka, trainer, examiner, instructor and official – over many decades. We mourn a person who gave the judo a lot in our region. We, the judoka from the Palatinate and beyond, commemorate Gunter Höpfner with great gratitude for his work and preserve him in an honorable memory.
Andreas Kolbig, on behalf of the Judo Association Pfalz eV
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