Obituary to Enevold Thygesen written by Mr Jens Vang Andersen 13 February 1922

Old Enevold Thygesen, the oldest man on Holmsland Klit - a veteran from the war of 1848 - 49, has passed.
He died on Thursday, 9th February 1922, at the age of 94 years and six months.

Old Enevold Thygesen as he was usually called, was born at Sonder Lyngvig in the year of 1827.  In his young days he was a fisherman like most people out here.  Only 21 years of age, a short time before the war started in 1848, he married Mariane, but being of no means, and Enevold soon to go away to serve as a soldier, they could not afford it, nor did they have the time to start a home of their own.

He went to war serving on one of the navy gun boats and fought in the battle of Fredericia.  Later on they bought a small lot of heath where they set up a small house with rooms with mud floor.  In this same house, which has certainly undergone a few changes since, Enevold and his wife who died less than three years ago, lived their whole long lives.

They had about 70 years of married life together and lived to celebrate their golden as well as their diamond wedding and even the 65th anniversary of their wedding. 

For many years they struggled hard to fight poverty, especially as they had a family of 12 children to raise.  But with Enevold and his wife it came to pass as the old truth has it; with the industrious man poverty may get as far as to look through the windows, but she never crosses the threshold.  When there was nothing to be fetched from fishing Enevold tackled other tasks and for several years he worked as a diver together with his brother in law, Niels Andersen who was his neighbour.

About 40 years ago, when the children had grown up, he handed the property, large enough to allow for the keeping of 3 cows, to one of his sons by the name of Iver, but the parents stayed on with the son and daughter-in-law with whom they had always had the best of relations.

Many years hence Enevold kept on fishing, until 28 years ago his legs grew weaker and he could no longer stand walking.  Then he started making fishing nets, and with this work he busied himself until last autumn, when he had to go to bed.

What a pleasure it was to visit old Enevold Thygesen and his wife and to listen to them telling the story of their lives and struggles, which had not made them dull and stubborn, but led them to their God and Saviour.  Old Enevold always had a look of content in his face and you always saw him with a gay smile.  He liked reading, without glasses, in his Bible and other devoted books, and he enjoyed singing hymns and songs.

It is true that since his wife died he sometimes saying it with a small sigh, found it lasting too long before God could use him, and lately, bed-ridden with his limbs aching, he might exclaim: "Oh, my Lord and Saviour, have you entirely forgotten me, the old sinner.  Oh, let me go home to meet all my dear ones who went before me." And when now calling him the Lord has surely said to him: "Come home to me you old and faithful servant to meet all your dear ones."