Alzheimer's Care for Edwin Dehler

Edwin (Eddy) Dehler is known by many for his energetic, loving character and for being the goofy German guy with the crazy curls and an accent. Whether you met him at Concordia Language Villages (CLV), where he taught German for over 30 years, or spent time with him biking, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, canoeing or camping, you know he loves all the great outdoors has to offer. I, on the other hand, know him well because he is my dad. Despite his unconventional parenting style, my dad always knew how to make me laugh and supported me in every aspect of my life growing up. He took me on trips across the U.S., bringing me everywhere from skateparks to soccer tournaments. We’d often drive late into the night, arriving at campsites at 4 a.m. only for him to ask for my help with putting up the tent. This was not my favorite part… I mean, why couldn’t we just stay in a hotel? In true Eddy fashion, we always slept outside, on the ground, no matter the weather since that was his idea of fun. Looking back, I’m so glad I went along with it. My dad is authentic and special in his own way, which is why I believe the people in his orbit adore him. I know it is why I love him so much. Whether you’ve met my dad in passing, been one of his lifelong friends, or been loved one, it is easy to see how he touched the lives of so many simply by being his unique, quirky and fun-loving self.

In the summer of 2020, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Although we’d noticed some forgetfulness over the years, we did not realize the severity of his situation until we received an official diagnosis. The news was heartbreaking, and it’s had a huge impact not only on his life, but on family and friends close to him. The sharp decline in his short-term memory has affected his ability to communicate verbally and function on his own, leading to a series of drastic lifestyle changes. We are very grateful to his loving wife, Ivy (pictured in the photo on the left), for taking care of him while my sister, Ingrid, and I do our best to support him from afar. Although Ivy has been able to assist him and serve as his full-time caregiver, his illness persists, creating increasingly challenging emotional and financial obstacles in its wake.

We are asking, if you are able, to please donate and help us support his medical expenses, necessary home renovations to accommodate his new standard of care, and his travel to Germany to spend time with his mother, Elisabeth, his younger brother, Winfried, and two sisters, Dorothea and Luitgart, all who live abroad in his hometown of Langenbieber. If you are able to contribute, please know we appreciate any amount that will support him during this difficult and confusing time. Thank you so very much!

Alles Liebe,

Tristan Dehler-Seter