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One foot in front of the other

Elizabeth Joseph

During the pandemic, many people had to be strong while their loved ones succumbed to the virus and had to deal with burying these people while adhering to Covid regulations.

Karl-Heinz Burger and his family are no exception and suffered losses like many others in Namibia. He describes the ideas around starting a funeral service, alongside his wife, local businesswoman, Elizabeth (Irene) Burger, as allowing people to be able to trust whoever is burying their family and friends.

"Heinz and Sons Funeral Service started because we wanted people to feel comfortable with us. The company offers a variety of services including body preparations, coffins, cremation, and catering among other things. The company is also very affordable and I am an ordained pastor who conducts counselling for bereaved families." he says.

Making a difference in the community is the core of the business, allowing families to grieve without having to worry about logistics.

The company employs more than 10 people, half of them with more than 10 years of experience in the funeral business.

"These are people that are well known in the community and people that are trustworthy and capable to handle your loved one's funeral," he says.

Goals

The company aims to be one of the most dignified and respected businesses in the field. It also wants to carry a banner of humility and understanding.

Hailing from the dusty streets of Maltahöhe, 43-year-old Karl Heinz Burger worked his way to the top to ensure that he leaves a legacy behind that his family can be proud of.

Juggling work and school showed Burger that he can take on any challenge if he applies himself to the fullest.

"I worked very hard because I knew that if I don't do it for myself no one else will," he says.

In 2000, Burger started a company, Irish Construction Cooling Services, that focused mainly on repairs and maintenance of computer boxes and motherboards. He says that knowing what you want makes the process to full entrepreneurship and financial independence easier.

"I had such a passion for technology and computers as a whole and thus remained in that industry. I had the background and the willingness to learn and that went hand in hand."

Burger moved to Keetmanshoop a year later and has since become a pillar of the community and popular among the people. He is known for his attention to detail and the punctual delivery of services. Burger is a man that wears many hats and he strives to make a success of everything he does.

"We have been fortunate to have been able to work on several small and big projects in three regions, namely the Erongo, Hardap, and //Karas regions. In Keetmanshoop, we have been a part of several government buildings whether we built them ourselves, or helped renovate them. Most recently, we opened a funeral home and that is the venture that I will be focusing on for the time being," he says.

Keeping a clear head

Burger has the heart to serve the community and says that his only goal is to be able to help people around him, by creating employment and lessening the gap between rich and poor.

"Through the darkness, I still see a light at the end of this tunnel. The plan for the company now is to expand to other regions such as the Hardap region," he says.

He is further motivated to continue growing the company by knowing that he can trust his family for their unwavering support and love. Burger says that their slogan, ‘A seed planted in difficult times’, is something that will offer comfort to many families who have been affected by the pandemic.