Hans Rancke-Madsen has passed away

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

I have no idea, but Denmark is a fairly cold country.

?? Aren't you from Denmark?

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

?? Aren't you from Denmark?

I live here because I was born here, but I'm hardly an expert on current local funeral customs. All I can say is that 2 weeks from death to funeral doesn't surprise me.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

I have no idea, but Denmark is a fairly cold country. As far back as 1100 years ago, ibn Fadlan was shocked by the relaxed Germanic attitude to getting corpses underground. It could well be that it's a perfectly normal time interval. Or it could be that there's an autopsy scheduled because his death (age 58) was apparently unexpected.

For comparison, in Anchorage, the funeral is typically 1-2 weeks out, because the first week is usually at the coroner's office; then, the funeral home; parlor before and crypt after the funeral, until the ground thaws enough to bury.

[jeff_wilson]

Hmm. It's usually just 2-3 days here.

[Drifter]

I would guess it also has something to do with available time at the church, which seems to be a popular one. My father-in-law passed several months ago, and it took some time to arrange the funeral, the place of the service, and a hall for a remembrance gathering.

[Anthony]

It would be common to get a coroner's report in cases of unexpected deaths, which this seems to have been, and that's going to slow things down.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Anthony

It would be common to get a coroner's report in cases of unexpected deaths, which this seems to have been, and that's going to slow things down.

Autopsies are rarely done, here in Denmark, I read a year or three ago. Someone who had been hit by cancer a few decades earlier and survived it, but who was permanently weakened by the experience (as Flemming Rasch implies), the medical guys might well shrug and go "well, crap happens, and he was 58." and not investigate further.

Then again, a coroner's report probably isn't the same as an autopsy (I'd guess), and a 2 week delay suggests that someone is doing some kind of investigation.

[Flyndaran]

58 is just too damn young. If a close relative died at that age for not painfully obvious reasons, I would probably be a raging dick to anyone downplaying my need for answers.
My condolences to anyone that knew him.

[Andrew Hackard]

Although curiosity is understandable, it's none of our business how he died unless the family chooses to share it. Please consider that they're still grieving and allow them some privacy.

[David L Pulver]

Originally Posted by tjoneslo

It has been announced that Hans Rancke has passed away on the 9th of October. I don't know any more details than the announcement below.

To Absent friends...

That is sad news. My sympathy to his friends and family for their loss.

I admired his writing and will miss him.