Robert Captain Lyonga

In Loving Memory of Mr. Robert Lyonga

 

“Brother”, we called you

Because of your love for our cousin and sister

Your wife EPOUPA who departed before you

Your time of departure has come

You have fought a good fight

You have lived a good life

You have kept the faith and

You have finished the race

We will miss you.

Be not afraid

For GOD will wipe all tears from our eyes

And there shall be no more crying
By Mr. Martin Winfrey Itondo (In-Law) on behalf of the Itondo Family

Uncle, you decided to leave me with pains that will never be forgotten. I know you were there for me like a father, a mother, an uncle but you decided to give me a shock on 27-08-2018. I believe it was the will of GOD. Rest in peace.

By Kate Limunga Lingate (Niece)

Uncle, you made me to remember the past of my mother, your late sister. You also decided to leave us as she did. I do not know who to call and depend on now. Since Mama left, whenever I am stressed, I came to you for comfort. Why did you do this to me? You too decided to break this relationship. May our good GOD keep your soul to rest in peace. I loved you but GOD loved you most.

By Lydia Nanyongo Mbenje (Niece)

Life is Forever! Death is a Dream!

If we did not go to sleep at night,

We’d never awaken to see the light—

And the joy of watching a new day break

Or meeting the dawn by some quiet lake

Would never be ours unless we slept

While God and all his angels kept

A vigil through this little death

That’s over with the morning breath . . .

And death too is a time of sleeping,

For those who die are in God’s keeping,

And there is a sunrise for each soul—

For life, not death is God’s promised goal. . .

So, trust God’s promise and doubt Him never,

For only through death can man live forever

By Mrs. Susan Ewanga Nkembe (“Daughter”)

My father, my Boss. I will continue to miss you because you were full of fun with me. Your memories will forever remain in my heart. God see you through into His Holy Kingdom.

By Jude Arrey (Oga Jude, Driver)

What a GREAT grandfather you were to me. I lack words to testify your greatness and goodness. Daddy/grandpa, you have left me at this tender age and I will miss you dearly. I pray that the Almighty God in His goodness and kindness grant you a place in His Heavenly kingdom.
By Feli on behalf of baby Robert Tchamnda (“grandson”)

It all ended on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 10:05pm when GOD called you, Daddy. When my parents died some years ago, and I become a member of your family taken in by Mommy, I was blessed to realize that not all my hopes were lost. I found in you and mommy new parents again. However, I did not enjoy our relation as long as I wished, hoped and prayed with the LORD calling mommy soon after and now you to take your final rest. I am sad about this but not angry because the Bible says that there is time for everything. Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Daddy, you were a father, a teacher, a grandpa and a best friend not only to me but to Yolande as well. You taught us many things in this life and you always crowned your lessons with your famous saying that “nyongoh na wongo” meaning “your own is your own”. For sure, I know and believe that our ALMIGHT GOD will grant you everlasting rest in his welcoming arms. Daddy, when I look at your namesake, baby Robert, I feel your presence around me. Yolande and I wished we had you a little while longer. However, no matter what the Doctors and Nurses did, our LORD wanted you home and HE prevailed.

Daddy, we will not mourn you like unbelievers because we know where you are. We will pray that our LORD continues to keep your soul in his bosom and cover you under His blood until we meet to part no more. We miss you and will always miss you, Daddy.
By Felicita Chu (Mama-o) and Yolande Goufan (Yo Yo)

From  the Doldrums of Newtown to the Mountains of SASSE

 

       That was the Path our Mola took in his early days as a youngster; and, when it was our turn, he ensured that we, my cousin Victor and I, followed the same path. Incredibly grateful!

         As we grew up as toddlers; for some reason, I often thought of him as Mola Bulb, instead of Bob; and just like the lightbulb, he became the shining light in our lives.

         Thank you Mola for being so kind, so influential, so considerate, so persuasive, and so emphatic in our upbringing.

         He was our Mola because his mother was a cousin to our paternal grandma. As our own parents moved away, from the Southwest and out of the country, he was the one who guided us through the right path.

         Well before Dolly and Natalie came along, he will parade us around the stadiums in Buea and Tiko for the must-see first division football games and, as we grew older, to his drinking spots in Victoria Club or elsewhere. When we left for our own studies abroad, every return visit home to Victoria involved a visit to see Dolly in Saker Baptist College. No matter the time of day or night, that became a ritual of a proud Dad.

         It was not only our lives that he touched but, thanks to his Treasury function through various towns in the Southwest and as he plunged into Diplomatic service in Washington D.C. and Ottawa, he had an impact on many people’s lives.

         He remembered many of those he touched in our final meetings in Dallas 2013 and later in Limbe in 2016. Even with failing health in the later years of his life, he was never robbed of his intellect and memory. He was not just a family man; he had become a man of the people. Our Mola was brash yet humble, lively yet deeply spiritual and blessed with a measured personality.

         Through his life and his deeds, he has served as the Bulb that brought the Light and the Captain that led the ship. Rest in Perfect Peace, for your Job is done!

Sincerely, Your Nephews  

 

Samuel M. Mokeba, J.D.

Harry M. Mokeba, Ph.D.

Louisiana State University

It has taken me a lot of energy, courage and tears to finally sit to put pen to paper and write this final farewell TRIBUTE to my DAD. I am overwhelmed with mixed emotions; Anger that he is gone from this world; Joy that I know where he is and Thanksgiving to GOD for giving me the Dad HE did in the person of Mr. Robert Captain Lyonga.

 

In the past, I have written many TRIBUTES to my DAD, especially on his birthdays and at other times, which I refer to as my “Just Because” Tributes. I have personally read some of them to him and have had my baby sister Nathalie or Felicita read others to him depending on the situation. Some of the Tributes were long, and some were short. However,  they all carried the same message of how much I LOVE and APPRECIATE him as my, Dad.

 

I called some of the tributes I wrote my “Just Because” Tributes because I did not want to wait only when there was a celebration to be able to acknowledge and tell him how much I appreciated and loved him as my Daddy. I did not want to wait to acknowledge and appreciate him when he would not hear my voice anymore, or when he could not understand the words I wrote or read. I did not want to sing his praise and to show him how proud I was of him only when he could not respond with words like “Mommy, thank you” which gave me the ultimate confirmation that he was aware of how I felt.  From my child’s eyes and for the rest of my life, my Dad will forever be my SUPERHERO and I had to let him hear that from me, in my own words and with my own voice.

You see, I missed this opportunity with my MOM because I thought there would always be time. Lord knows, I was not going to make that same mistake and miss this GOLDEN opportunity with my DAD.

 

On July 16, 2016 my sister and I celebrated Dad’s 80^th birthday. The opportunity to celebrate DAD’s 80^th is my most valued and cherished accomplishment. It is not about my education, my profession and career nor my accomplishments as an individual, a wife and mother. Instead, being able to celebrate and thank God for giving me such an awesome father and blessing him with 80 years was the highlight of 2016. 80 years of a well-lived life, my ability to show Dad how appreciative I was of him, how much I loved him and thanked him for all the sacrifices he did for me, and for our family over the years as my Dad made “2016” a year never to be forgotten.

 

Today as I reflect, my Dad was one heck of a Dad. Anyone can be a father but it takes a special father to be a Dad. What is the difference you may ask? From my vantage point, a DAD is about one-millionth power raised from a father. Here are some differences that made my Dad stand out exponentially from just been a father:

A Father                                              

- may/may not genetically contribute to your chromosomal makeup

- may/may not clothe, feed, roof you and your family

- may/may not pay for your education and other needs

- may/may not teach you life’s lessons

- may/may not be there every time you need him

- may/may not rank you and your family as priority #1 in his life

- may/may not love you as much as you may love him, or even if you do not love him

Etc…

A DAD

-     May/may not contribute genetically… But one thing for sure is that his HEART WILL ALWAYS be a part of you because to a DAD, they birth their child from their heart and not physical as mom's do

-     WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE (clothes, food, roof, educate and any other needs), PROFESS (be your #1 fan and blow your horn) and PROTECT you and your family at all times

-     WILL ALWAYS teach you Life’s lessons by the way they live their life, not only by telling you what to do. They understand that children learn better by seeing actions rather than by just hearing or reading words

-     WILL ALWAYS be there to give an ear to listen, an answer to a question or a solution to a problem, a shoulder to cry on, a confidant to plan with, a voice to advice and a friend when in need

-     WILL ALWAYS make you and your family priority #1 in his life, no matter what may come his way

-     WILL ALWAYS Love you from the day you are born and will continue to LOVE you more each day even when you periodically drift away     

-     and MORE….

 

To me, these are just a few differences between a father and a DAD. My sister, Nathalie and I are blessed to not only have a father, but a DAD who fulfilled all the above attributes and many more…too many to list on this tribute.

Daddy,

•  By your love for me and my sister, your wife and your family you have taught me how to love my children and how a husband ought to love his wife and family.
•  By your life, lived in honesty, humility, responsibility and sacrifice, you have taught me how to be a good citizen of the world, a good parent, partner, friend, professional and a child of God.
• By your friendliness, commitment, dedication, patience, discipline, compassion, and sense of humor, you have taught me some of the most valuable lessons in life; how to stay focus even when the storm seems to rage and never to take life for granted.
• By your daily simple actions, you have taught me how to live a simple, fulfilling and gratifying life with thanksgiving for every opportunity.

 

For these and many more, I consider myself truly blessed and thankful to God for giving me you as my Dad. You will forever by my Super Hero and I stand here proud to be call Mr. R.C. Lyonga’s daughter.

 

Daddy, if I could make you stay a little longer, I would. If I could wish upon a star to feel your hug and hear your voice, especially when you say “…by the grace of God…” one more time, I would.

 

However, that would be selfish of me. Your work here in this physical world is complete and you were ready to go home. That is why when your LORD and GOD called, you quietly answered as I know you would, “… my God and my Lord, your humble servant listens and answers to your call…”. Answered you did as you quietly slept away on August 27th, 2018.

 

I know you are with your beloved wife, our Mom. I know you are both happily united again never to part no more. I also know she asked, “…but Bob how are the children…” and I know you answered, “… they are all doing well”.

 

For now, that may not be 100% correct, because the pain of your departure is still fresh and still hurts like a hot knife through butter. However, I hope and pray that in due time and as you would always say Daddy “…by the grace of God”, it gets better. I know it will.

 

So Daddy, I bid you goodnight from this physical world. Lay down and take your rest. However, know that you will be hearing from me more than twice a day as you did when you were physically here. This time, it will be multiple times a day from my heart because that is where you will forever reside until the day I too, will be called home to reunite with you and mom never to part no more.

 

I thank GOD for you as my Dad. I thank God for Mom. I thank GOD for riding the TRAIN of LIFE with me as my Parents. I am honored and blessed to continue your legacy, The LYONGA Legacy.

Sewelele Daddy, as I bid you goodnight.

Dolly Lyonga-Lambe

(Daughter)