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Dorfen's heart continues to beat: Farewell to former mayor Simmerl
Former mayor Hermann Simmerl shaped Dorfen until his death on June 5, 2023. The focus is on honoring his life's work and upcoming archive reforms.
Dorfen's heart continues to beat: Farewell to former mayor Simmerl
Dorfen recently suffered a painful loss. Hermann Simmerl, the city's former mayor, died on June 5, 2023 at the age of 90. Many citizens still remember him well because he played a key role in shaping life in Dorfen during his time as mayor from 1984 to 1996. Until the end he was one of the most important local politicians and cultural promoters in the region. Simmerl only celebrated his 90th birthday with his family in February 2023, an occasion that was a beautiful occasion for many.
His commitment to the city extends far beyond his term in office. As part of the CSU, he campaigned for the “complete municipalization of public services” by ensuring that citizens receive reliable electricity, water and heat. One of his successful projects was the local model, which made it easier for many families to purchase inexpensive building land in the 1980s. In addition to his years in the town hall, he also worked as deputy principal at the Dorfen secondary school, where he joined the city council in 1972 with the aim of moving the city forward.
A lasting legacy
The list of his achievements is long: the construction of the sewage treatment plant in Tegernbach, the comprehensive renovation of the old town and the expansion of kindergartens and the Marienstift retirement home are just a few examples. Even after his term in office, Simmerl remained active, taking over the chairmanship of the historical circle for two decades and taking care of the city archives. It is thanks to him that many documents and records found their way to the Dorfen history workshop.
His tireless commitment was honored with numerous awards, including the Citizens' Medal and the Medal for Special Services to Local Self-Government. His wife Betty had been at his side since 1960, and their planned iron wedding in August 2023 unfortunately remained unfulfilled. Simmerl leaves behind his widow, two sons, a granddaughter and a large number of companions who owe him a lot.
The future of the city archives
With the death of Hermann Simmerl, the Dorfen city archives will face special challenges. Mayor Heinz Grundner has already announced that next year the city will celebrate its first documented mention 1,250 years ago. At the same time, the need to conceptually redesign the municipal archive was recognized. The inadequate documentation in the archive, which Simmerl subjectively had in mind for many years, represents a hurdle for the future. There is no systematic list of the documents stored in the archive, which makes local historical research difficult.
The historical significance of the archive has been an issue in city politics for years. The Dorfen history workshop has called for improvements several times, and a report has been available since the end of 2018. A concept for hiring a specialist for the archive should now be developed. Mayor Grundner was optimistic that a solution would be found to further promote Dorfen as a historic town.
The development of local self-government in Germany shows how important it is to preserve the history of a city. From the beginnings of self-government in the Middle Ages to the challenges of the present, the goal has always been to give citizens a voice and to actively shape communities. Recent developments in Dorfen bring this ambition to a new level, connecting the past with the present.
Hermann Simmerl's funeral will take place on June 17, 2023 at 11 a.m. The city of Dorfen will give him a final sign of thanks for his tireless service.