Hans Nolywaika

Mr. Ernst Nolywaika was my landlord in Reckendorf. He welcomed me home from Bosnia by drinking me under the table over a long dinner. He allowed me to join him and his family for one of his birthday celebrations and, notably, picked up the check after some remarks that he translated to me as "I have been blessed with 70 years, many of which were reasonably prosperous and I celebrate by sharing with my family and friends." And thus began my birthday tradition ... which I begin with a tribute to Mr. Nolywaika, who welcomed me into his upstairs apartment, always gave me friendly conversation, and gave me an inspiring tradition. May he continue to rest in peace, and so, too, may Hans, who, if he is anything like his grandfather, was also a good man.

I don't have the vocabulary to express my sincere sadness for the best friend I ever had or ever will...the love this family possess is so genuine and real.. I had the opportunity to spend some time with this amazing family at their home in Nenana... My memory of Hans is so fun and loving...on earth he was full of love and very silly... I learned a great deal that summer spending time with Kim, Manfred and kids... Hans took me pretend hunting... and we road stick horses... I am positive he is singing and praising his savior whom he honored so on earth... I am also positive he is loving and guiding his family through this difficult time not able to see and hold him...you were needed before we wanted to lose you Hans... I am grateful I met you and I hope I am blessed enough to meet you again..

Hans, We are very sorry that you had to leave us but I know you met God's calling. I believe you can read this. I remember you from a baby till you grew to be a fine believer in God. To me you were and are as strong as John the Baptist. I wonder what Heaven looks like to you. We will all in my house miss you until we get there too. Hans , as a father myself, I was very pround of the man you were. I will remember you as a great friend. Tell the Lord we love him too. Hallelujah!!!

The loss of Hans weighs heavy in my heart ! At first I thought lead replaced the void Hans' absence left in my chest. The more I ponder how precious, few and enduring those memories are, the more I know God's given me gold! Pure and precious moments I hold in a heavy heart !

Manfred, Kim and family, when I read the e-mail my heart stopped for a beat. Not Hans, please dear lord not Hans. Hans was a very special human being, from the first time our family met him when he and Manfred came to our home. We knew he was special. A young man who was his fathers best friend, full of knowledge laughter and always spoke of his family. We are so thankful we had the opportunity to spend time with him.

While working on our home we became family, my wife Lori would cook dinners for Hans and Manfred, they would sit down for lunch and watch Gun Smoke. We would sit and play the guitar talk about his dreams of being a pilot. When I saw the Volvo pull up I was always excited to spend time with Hans and Manfred.

Lori and I will always have a place in our heart for Hans and his family.

God bless you.

Hans will always be remembered as a nice, well mannered young man. He was polite to everyone.

I will also always remember him for being a prolific reader all the wonderful educational books that I would get for him per his request. He really had a desire to learn. I am proud to say I was his librarian.

I didnt know him, but im a brother in Christ from another country. I will have his family on my prayers. Thanks God, for Jesus Christ, our savior, and our hope.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends. May you find comfort in the at Acts 24:15, where God promises a resurrection hope for the righteous and the unrighteous. So you can look forward to seeing your love ones again.

I've been thinking about the little bit of time spent with Hans last summer when he and his dad refinished our logs. For such a young man, Hans made a big impression. It was so obvious he loved the Lord. I could see it in the way he worked, in the way he talked, and in the way he interacted with his dad.

He taught me how to use sanding disks on an angle grinder to smooth the logs. A few days ago I used that training to prepare trim around my windows for painting.

It was sad to see such a special life cut short. We had talked about his future plans and I know he was excited for what laid ahead for him. He had no idea a tragic crash would end those plans. I don't know why God wanted him to come home so early but I do know God does not make mistakes.

I still pray for his family as I know there are moments when they really miss Hans. One day they will be reunited in heaven. I know one of the people I'm looking forward to seeing again is Hans. Thank you God for allowing me to meet him before you took him home!

Manfred and Kim, some of our warmest memories from our time in Nenana were with your family at your home. I loved watching our young boys look up to Hans with amazement and admiration as he showed them how to take apart and rebuild his pistol. He was always so kind. And smart. And hard-working. I'm so glad we knew him. We had a blast meeting up with Manfred and Hans at Carlos' in Anchorage. And we'll never forget (this is what makes us smile the most) the friendly (and hilarious) banter between Hans and Olivia. :) We continue to pray for your whole family. We love you all.

I met Hans back in 2011, when I was living in Nenana. We were in a bible study together and I remember thinking that even though he was still a teenager, he had a passion for Christ and wisdom above his years. He was an amazing young man. When I was around Hans, he usually wanted to talk about snow machining, hunting, or cars. My condolences go out to the Nolywaika family, but I rest in the fact that I will one day see him again.

Barbara J Nagell Although I have never met this young man there are things that I know about him; his love of family, his love for the Lord, his love of friends and community, his commitment in everything he set his hands and heart to. As a consequence of living the beautiful life he led, all of that has come back to you and the family. God gave you a beautiful gift for which there is much pride and gratitude and although God has removed that gift from your sight, for a little while, the gift remains apart of you. All the love he created on this physical earth surrounds and embraces you and holds you close. So close that you can still feel him, smell him, hear him and see him in every gift he left behind for you to hold onto until you are all together again, The sadness and tears although may overcome you, you know God's promise is true and for that you know that the joy comes in the morning. Praising God for his love and mercy and healing touch. <3

My heart breaks for my sister and her family. It's hard to believe this beautiful young man is no longer with us and we will never have the chance to see what he would have become. Hans you will be missed.

Robin, Steve, Samantha,Amanda & Makenna

We continue to pray for you all as you walk through his valley of sorrowing. May the balm of His faithful Word soothe your hearts continually. 1 Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 46:10

Sue & I had the pleasure of meeting Hans as he worked elbow to elbow with his father as they restored the interior of our log cabin. We commented then that "that apple didn't fall from the tree....that's Manfred's legacy we're watching".
We can only carry a small part of the burden of losing Hans. But we carry it willingly knowing Hans will wait for us, tools in hand and with that movie star smile on his face, when we meet again.
Rest easy Hans, we will carry on in your memory. May God bless you and bless you with everlasting peace.

I visited my brother Manfred at his 50th birthday in 2005 and we went hiking together with hans up the road leading in to denali national park, we had a good time and the air was so clean on this day , all the peaks of the Alaska range to the east 50 miles and more away showed up on the horizon, hans talked much about hiking and the area he knew so very well. We had so much fun together and hans is for me the same as my own son, he is in my heart..... I miss him........rainer

I have lots of good memories with Hans growing up as neighbors. Many a red squirrel was harvested with our slingshots! Whether it was playing down by the creek, making boats, and playing hide and seek and freeze tag, or canoeing in front of the Nolywaika's home - a good time with alot of laughter was always had! No words can comfort your loss - I have to lean on His promise that our lives here are but a vapor on the eternal timeline. I look forward to seeing Hans again on the other side.

Hans is in so many of my fondest childhood memories. It seems like just yesterday we were eating otter pops in the back of the pickup.. working in the hayfields and yelling like banshees at the tourist train.. going sledding.. having snowball wars. He always let Livvy and I know when he found a good meatwood source, and he chased us with many, many spruce beetles. I hadn't seen him in so long when Katy's wedding took place. I kept wondering who that tall, handsome, capable looking man was with Livvy.... and then realized it was Hans!!! He will never be forgotten. I'm so honored to have known him. Love you all.

Dear Manfred, Kim, Livy, Josef, and Noah .... It was a pleasure to know Hans and to spend time watching him grow into a young man who knew the Lord Jesus, followed Him, served Him, and loved Him. We have many memories of your dear son around bonfires, pulling foxtail in the fields, riding horses, pestering the girls while they were "cooking" in their outdoor kitchen, at Christmas and birthday parties, corraling in the three amigos ... the list could go on as I'm sure it does for each of you daily. We are thankful for each of you and pray the special closeness of the Lord in each of your lives, for He alone is our comfort and our strength. May you feel His faithful presence even now. Love from the Minnemas

We think about Hans all the time. Recently A.P. commented that the wood we are currently burning in the wood stove was cut, split, and stacked by Hans. I remember that he liked that go-cart that we had and would look for ways to use it when working in the yard and then spin a few donuts while he was on it. He had called A.P. that week to ask about engine oil and A.P. always enjoys sharing information on topics like this.
We will miss him.
Our deepest condolences,
Annette & A.P. McDonald

I am very sorry. I pray for you all every day. I don't really have the magic words to make the pain stop, but I do have ears to listen and the arms to hug. With love to you, God bless, Pamela Samash

Dear Noly family, Your friendship means so much to us and we can hardly imagine life without your precious Hans. We know God placed Hans in your very special family to be a very special blessing. We have many fond memories of our years in Alaska: raising our families together, celebrating birthdays and holidays, talking home school, meeting for Bible studies and fellowship, eating yummy homemade food straight from your garden and livestock, surviving harsh winters and basking in summer rays. God has been so good to give us each other, to share in life's joys and sorrows. Thank you for your example of faith in this time of shock and grief. For directing our thoughts heavenward to where Hans now resides with his Savior. Thank you for receiving our condolences and comforting us when your own hearts are breaking. We are trusting you daily to our Heavenly Father for "though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love" Lam.3:32. We love you!!

I didn't know your precious Hans but just reading all the things about him tells what an awesome Christian young man. Prayers for your family may God wrap his loving arms around all who loved this special young man.

I never was very close to Hans, but I remember running around with him as a kid. He would play a lot with my older brother, Peter, and I thought Hans and Peter were the coolest people ever, being two years older than me. I remember them throwing eggs at their pigs (I think), and thinking they were being so naughty and rebellious. I also remember them trying to pop popcorn kernels on the stove -- one kernel at a time. There was a car along the drive to their house, and Peter and Hans used to take bits and piece off of it climbing around in the inside. I was usually kicked out. ;) Hans was a wonderful young man. I am praying for his family.

It's very hard to say good bye to my grandson,there are no words. I am proud of the man you became, I will always love you. We will see each other again. Grandma.

Ich stelle mir das Sterben vor wie ein großes helles Tor. Durch das wir einmal gehen werden. Dahinter liegt der Quell des Lichts oder das Meer, vielleicht auch nichts. Vielleicht ein Park mit grünen Bänken. Doch eh` nicht jemand wiederkehrt und mich eines Bessren belehrt, möcht` ich mir dort den Himmel denken.
Fam.Joachim Kudlek

You may not see him and you may not hear him but he will always be there in your heart when you need him the most.
Spiritus nunquam moritur.

The first time I saw Hans he was a couple of weeks old. He was a blessing from the very start.I didn't get to be with him as often as I wanted to but when I did get to visit with him he impressed me as being the kind of person we all want our kids to be when they grow up. The last time I spoke to him was shortly before his death. He had always wanted to become a pilot. I finally had someone to talk about airplanes and flying. When Kim called me that evening and told me what had happened, I couldn't believe what she was telling me. The next morning I hoped it was only a bad dream. I will miss our talks. I was getting to know Hans as a young man who was determined to live out his dream. I love you very much Hans and will see you again.
Your Grandpa, Harv

My heart is breaking with this news. Why Hans? Why does the world loose such a kind, intelligent and generous soul? My heart goes out to Manfred, Kim, Olivia,Joseph and Noah. I am proud to have known Hans and I am a better person for it. I just spent a wonderful week this last summer with Hans an Manfred at our cabin in Talkeetna. They were such a team. Hans worked hard just like his dad and always had a smile or some kindness to say. We spent hours talking about all kind of things. He was curious and so well educated. We talked a lot about his Volvo which was his pride and joy. Now, when I look at these cabin walls he worked so skillfully and carefully on I cannot imagine the world without him. This cabin just became ever so much more precious. I am so sorry.

I did not know Hans well. Manfred and Hans refinished quite a few of the log homes I built. I was always impressed by the relationship between Hans and Manfred. The job of refinishing a log home is long and dirty but the atmosphere on the job was always up beat and cheerful. Then to get in the car and drive an hour back to Nenana together after working that long hard day and do it all over again the next day seemed like a lot to ask from most teenagers.I'm not sure how well that would have worked in my family. I could tell Hans was a hard worker and always so polite and respectful. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family!