Pennsylvanian Buried With His Beloved Harley-Davidson
Steadfast Harley enthusiast decided that he just couldn’t part with his 1990 Heritage Softail, not even in the afterlife. Can you blame him?
Harley-Davidson owners are some of the most diehard fans on the road. Some riders can’t stomach the idea of ever giving up their bikes, but this report from NPR really sheds some light on how much Harley owners love their motorcycles.
As NPR reports, Arthur Werner Sr., an 89-year-old from Pennsylvania, made plans to be buried in the sidecar of his 1990 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail long before his time of passing. Werner, who worked as a steel welder, spent years trying to save enough money to purchase the motorcycle, and he didn’t want to part with it not even in the afterlife. In fact, even after receiving the tragic news about his cancer diagnosis, the inspiring senior was still riding that Softail until recently.
The funeral home, according to Lehigh Valley Live, was Heintzelman Funeral Home in Hellertown, Pa., which is run by motorcycle enthusiasts. The report claims that the funeral home has three motorcycle hearses, one of which features a custom-design by Orange County Choppers. “We are definitely celebrating his life the way he wanted,” said the funeral home’s director/owner David Heintzelman.
‘It’s been [all about] bikes all of his life. This is what he wanted.
He lived for that bike.’
As Lehigh Valley Live reports, Werner asked to be placed in the sidecar for the viewings on June 29 and 30 before being transported in one of funeral home’s motorcycle hearses to be buried with the sidecar at Bethlehem Memorial Park Cemetery.
Werner’s sidecar, which was similar to the one pictured below, reportedly did not have to be modified to meet his last wish.
“We are kind of known to meet the needs of the family,” said Heintzelman. “His request was to be buried in the sidecar of his motorcycle. I did the measurements, and [we were able to do it] 100 percent without even modifying the sidecar.”
A massive procession of over 100 bikes and six antique cars helped guide Werner to his final resting place.
While Werner’s request is unorthodox, he truly loved his motorcycle and it’s nice to hear about a funeral home making an enthusiast’s last wish come true. “It’s been [all about] bikes all of his life,” said daughter-in-law Cindy Werner. “This is what he wanted. He lived for that bike.”
