FILE OBIT-
Brendan Anderson, 41, pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, impersonator, makes a visit to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday October 16, 2010 to visit Nicholas Koenig, 3. Nicholas was the son of Erik and Shannon Koenig, of Richmond, Minn. Nicholas was born with Pulmonary Atresia, underwent open heart surgery at less than one month old, and was diagnosed and at age 2 with acute Myloid Leukemia. Young Nicholas is a huge fan of the Disney, “Pirates of The Caribbean” movies, and especially the main character, pirate Captain Jack Sparrow.
Nicholas Koenig, 4, died of complications from his illnesses on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.
Brendan Anderson had the opportunity to grant a final wish for the young Nicholas the previous week before his death. Anderson went for a final boat ride on Lake Minnetonka, in Minneapolis, Minn. with Nicholas. Anderson described it as, "Nicholas wanted one last boat ride with his hero, and I was honored to be a part in granting his wish. I remember patting him on the head as we braved the “high seas” together. I also used a line from one of the movies, which was "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate!""
(AP PHOTO/THE COUNTRY TODAY/PAUL M. WALSH)
Editor Note: The spelling of the hospital name is Amplatz is correct.
Nicholas Paul Koenig (2007-2011)
Gentle son, precious grandson
Nicholas Paul Koenig, 4
Richmond
April 6, 2007 – August 16, 2011
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, MN for Nicholas Paul Koenig, age 4, who died Tuesday at his home in the arms of his loving parents after a 2 ½ year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A private burial will be in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery.
Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond. Parish prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the funeral home.
Nicholas was born at the St. Cloud Hospital to Erik and Shannon (Barthel) Koenig. He loved pirates, superheroes, SpongeBob, going to the park, golf cart rides, and football, especially the Minnesota Vikings. Most of all Nicholas loved making his friends, family, doctors and nurses laugh with his best friend Bernie the bear.
Survivors include his parents; sister Maggie; grandmother Sharon Steinhofer Gertken; grandmother Mary Jo Koenig; grandfather William Koenig; great-grandmother JoRita Senta; great-grandmother Shirley Steinhofer; great-grandparents Robert and Patricia Koenig; many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandfathers, Louis Senta and Norbert Steinhofer.
Thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, the St. Cloud Hospital, and CentraCare Clinic for taking such wonderful care of our Nicholas.
In honor of Nicholas' love of the Vikings we ask that friends and family come to the visitation and funeral wearing Vikings apparel or something purple.
