We were five children on a small farm in the Vogler village of Holenberg. I was born in March 1934. On the same day, I shared my birthday with my father, who was 30 years older. After finishing school, I successfully completed a baker's apprenticeship in 1948. Afterwards, I worked as a young journeyman in various businesses. I then took the master craftsman examination. I was self-employed for 30 years. Later, at the end of the century, I successfully operated an internet forum in my former bakery, being the first in the province to do so.