Jurgen loved to welcome people to the Roundwood Inn after making Wicklow home
JÜRGEN Eckhard Schwalm of The Roundwood Inn passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, August 31.
Jürgen was born in Garnsee, East Prussia on August 18, 1939 and also formerly lived in Main, Germany.
He began his training as a restaurateur in Germany after extensive periods working in Paris and Zurich. At the young age of 20 he arrived to finish his training in Shannon Airport, Co Clare, where he met the love of his life, Áine. They settled in Roundwood and the rest is history.
Jürgen and Áine worked with great passion and dedication to welcome everyone in to their unique brand of hospitality that is today, The Roundwood Inn. He loved welcoming patrons and customers and continued to do so despite his illness until January of this year.
In his early days, Jürgen loved to go fishing with our grandfather and we have many treasured memories of trips to Co Clare and fresh fish suppers.
Jürgen had a great love of the natural world and in his spare time loved tending his herb and vegetable garden and his many fruit trees.
His grandchildren absolutely adored him and share loving memories of his great sense of humour, watching cartoons, storytelling, water fights and family gatherings where he introduced them to a love of food.
His family pass on their many thanks to Dr. David Fennelly; Dr. Joe Keena; the palliative care team of Siobhan, Hazel, Tracey, Mary and Rena; PHNs Jennifer, Ciara and Pauline; OT Valerie; Ivor and team at Adrien Dunne Ashford Pharmacy; and Joe, Maeve and Anthony, the paramedics who tended to Jürgen.
He faced his illness with great courage, humour and positivity. Words cannot express how uniquely wonderful he was.
His constant love, support, guidance and wisdom will be carried in the hearts of his family forever.
Jürgen was the beloved husband of the late Áine, much loved father of Helen, Ingrid, Gisela and Sabine, father-inlaw of Michael, Simon and Steven, adored Opa of Gisela, Christiana and Mikey, Isabella and Renata, Alex and Gracie, Sidney, Adam and Olivia.
He was a loving brother survived by Erika, Ingrid and Friedhelm;
He will be sadly missed by his family, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, staff and customers of The Roundwood Inn.