- Numerous famous personalities attended the funeral of Willi Lemke.
Many notable figures in politics and sports attended Willi Lemke's funeral at Bremen Cathedral. The long-time manager of Werder Bremen, who later served as Bremen's Senator of Education, passed away on August 12 at the age of 77.
"I felt his impact as a fan, and watched as he led Werder Bremen to unprecedented achievements. Bremen was a trailblazer in numerous areas," commented Hans-Joachim Watzke, a spokesperson for the DFL Presidium and the CEO of Borussia Dortmund.
Attendees at the funeral included former Werder Bremen coaches like Otto Rehhagel, former strikers Rudi Völler, Klaus Allofs, and Ailton, as well as former colleagues in management such as Reiner Calmund. "Willi brought me to Werder Bremen alongside Otto Rehhagel and continued to support me," added Rudi Völler, the sporting director of the DFB.
Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed his admiration for Lemke as "a clever, devoted, and completely reliable friend. He was someone the SPD could truly be proud of."
The funeral for Lemke was also broadcast on a large screen at Bremen Marketplace in front of the Cathedral, allowing many citizens to pay their respects to one of the city's most renowned figures.
Lemke served as manager of Werder Bremen from 1981 to 1988, then as Bremen's Senator of Education and Interior, and also as a UN Special Envoy for Sport in the service of peace and development from 2008 to 2016.
"The attention he's receiving today is well-deserved," said former Werder Bremen player and coach Thomas Schaaf. "Because he reached so many people and fought for them."
The prominence of Willi Lemke in both sports and politics was evident in the attendance of notable figures at his funeral. As a UN Special Envoy for Sport, Lemke brought recognition to Bremen in his role promoting peace and development.
