Günter Felke
Encyclopedia
Günter Felke was a German furniture manufacturer, numismatist
and patron of culture.
and his wife Maria in Laufersweiler
(State of Rhineland-Palatinate
).
In 1929 his family moved to Sohren, a village nearby, where his father expanded his furniture factory, the company Felke Möbelwerke
. He studied at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium in Simmern, which he left in 1948 prior to the final exams to work for his father’s company.
With his two brothers Aloys
and Walter Felke he worked as a junior boss alongside his father.
In 1970 he became chief operating officer and technical director.
In 1960 Günter Felke discovered his fascination with the history of numismatics in Palatinate (Pfalz) and Mainz
. As a collector of roman, medieval and modern gold coins from the Rhineland, he presented a large collection of rare exhibits to museums in Veldenz
, Simmern
and Heidelberg
. He also wrote several essays on coining in Veldenz.
In 1980 Felke became a member of the Bavarian Numismatic Society (Bayerische Numismatische Gesellschaft). One year later he published his first book about the history of native gold stamping Die Münzen der Herzöge von Simmern. That book was soon followed by the illustrated book Die Goldprägungen der Rheinischen Kurfürsten 1346-1478 in 1989.
1984 he was one of the founders of the Pfälzische Numismatische Gesellschaft.
In the following years Günter Felke subsequently increased his efforts in the cultural sector and the education for young students. His foundation has been presenting the Günter-Felke-Award to outstanding students at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium in Simmern since 1990.
Günter Felke was married and the father of three children.
The foundation has been awarding annual prizes at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium since 1990 to students with outstanding achievements.
Since 1990 the Günter-Felke-Foundation has awarded 305 prizes and a total sum of approximately 100.000 Euro
s to 1317 students (as of 2009). The award is largely funded by the benefits of Felke’s last book.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
and patron of culture.
Life
Günter Felke was born as the youngest son of the industrialist Michael FelkeMichael Felke
Michael Felke was a German furniture manufacturer.- Life :Michael Felke was the first of four children and came from a poor family background...
and his wife Maria in Laufersweiler
Laufersweiler
Laufersweiler is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
(State of Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
).
In 1929 his family moved to Sohren, a village nearby, where his father expanded his furniture factory, the company Felke Möbelwerke
Felke Möbelwerke
The Felke-Möbelwerke company was a German furniture factory with its headquarters in Sohren in the Hunsrück region and branches all over the country. It was one of the largest employers in the Hunsrück and significantly increased the economic importance of the region.-History:The Felke-Möbelwerke...
. He studied at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium in Simmern, which he left in 1948 prior to the final exams to work for his father’s company.
With his two brothers Aloys
Aloys Felke
Aloys Felke was a German politician and furniture manufacturer. -Life:...
and Walter Felke he worked as a junior boss alongside his father.
In 1970 he became chief operating officer and technical director.
In 1960 Günter Felke discovered his fascination with the history of numismatics in Palatinate (Pfalz) and Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. As a collector of roman, medieval and modern gold coins from the Rhineland, he presented a large collection of rare exhibits to museums in Veldenz
Veldenz
Veldenz is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, Simmern
Simmern
Simmern is a town of 8,000 inhabitants in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, the district seat of the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, and the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde...
and Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. He also wrote several essays on coining in Veldenz.
In 1980 Felke became a member of the Bavarian Numismatic Society (Bayerische Numismatische Gesellschaft). One year later he published his first book about the history of native gold stamping Die Münzen der Herzöge von Simmern. That book was soon followed by the illustrated book Die Goldprägungen der Rheinischen Kurfürsten 1346-1478 in 1989.
1984 he was one of the founders of the Pfälzische Numismatische Gesellschaft.
In the following years Günter Felke subsequently increased his efforts in the cultural sector and the education for young students. His foundation has been presenting the Günter-Felke-Award to outstanding students at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium in Simmern since 1990.
Günter Felke was married and the father of three children.
Günter-Felke-Foundation
The Günter Felke Foundation (Günter-Felke-Stiftung) was founded by Günter Felke in October 1989.The foundation has been awarding annual prizes at the Herzog-Johann-Gymnasium since 1990 to students with outstanding achievements.
Since 1990 the Günter-Felke-Foundation has awarded 305 prizes and a total sum of approximately 100.000 Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s to 1317 students (as of 2009). The award is largely funded by the benefits of Felke’s last book.
Distinctions
- 1994 – Honorary Award of Simmern
- 2000 – Honorary citizen of Simmern
- 2001 – Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate
Publications
- Die Münzen der Herzöge von Simmern, 1981.
- Die Goldprägungen der rheinischen Kurfürsten 1346–1478. Mainz, Trier, Köln, Pfalz. Münz-Zentrum, Köln 1989, ISBN 3-9800233-7-0.