More than 600 people gathered at Benkhausen Castle to honour Paul Gauselmann, the founder of the Merkur Group, following his passing on August 21 at the age of 91.
The gathering brought together Gauselmann’s family, friends, and business associates, alongside political and industry representatives, members of clubs and associations, and Merkur Group employees. The ceremony was also livestreamed so the group’s wider workforce could take part.
Gauselmann founded the Merkur Group as a one-person business and spent 67 years leading its development into an international company employing more than 15,000 people.
Speakers at the memorial reflected on his career, community involvement, and personal relationships. They highlighted his financial support for hospitals, schools, kindergartens, fire brigades, and local associations, as well as his role in shaping people around him.
Michael Gauselmann, Chairman of the Merkur Group’s supervisory board, began the ceremony by recalling his relationship with his father. He described how he balanced his roles as a parent and entrepreneur and remembered one of his father’s guiding principles: “Only an implemented idea is a good idea.” Michael said the phrase later became a lesson he shared with employees: “Don’t talk, do it.”
Manfred Stoffers, Deputy Spokesman of the Merkur Group’s executive board and a long-time confidant of Gauselmann, moderated the event. He also shared memories from their 42 years of knowing each other.
Lars Felderhoff, Spokesman of the Merkur Group, focused on Gauselmann’s business achievements, crediting his courage, determination, and persistence for the company’s growth. He described him as a “brilliant tinkerer, visionary, and designer” who did not believe in standing still.
Felderhoff said Gauselmann’s influence could not be measured solely through the company’s figures, but also through the people he had affected throughout his career.
Several speakers also highlighted Gauselmann’s involvement in politics and his efforts to shape the gaming industry. Stoffers described him as a “fighter for freedom,” while Hermann Otto Solms, former vice president of the Bundestag and honorary chairman of the FDP, recalled their long-standing relationship.
Solms said Gauselmann had worked to bring the gaming industry “out of the grey area.”
Georg Stecker, Spokesman of the board of the German Slot Machine Industry, also praised Gauselmann’s contribution to the sector, describing him as a technology enthusiast who was focused on putting ideas into action.
Representatives of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Minden-Lübbecke district also paid tribute to his community work.
Anna Katharina Bölling, District President of Detmold, conveyed condolences from the state government and described Gauselmann as a “visionary entrepreneur.” She pointed to his contributions to local hospitals, schools, daycare centres and associations. “He was not only a good speaker, but also a good listener. That’s not given to many.”
Minden-Lübbecke District Administrator Ali Dogan called Gauselmann a “real pillar of society,” particularly noting his financial support for the Mühlenkreiskliniken.
His ties to the local community were also recalled by the mayors of Espelkamp and Lübbecke. Gauselmann was an honorary citizen of both cities and donated €8.7 million to Espelkamp and €5 million to Lübbecke during his lifetime.
Beyond his business and community activities, speakers remembered Gauselmann for his love of tennis and card games. Erhard Schiffner, captain of the men’s 75 team at TV Espelkamp-Mittwald, recalled playing tennis with him, while Arthur Plate spoke about their monthly Doppelkopf games.
Plate said Gauselmann planned his schedule around both tennis and Doppelkopf, with the gatherings eventually developing into friendships. “Paul Gauselmann was not only a great game maker, but also an enthusiastic player himself,” Stoffers said.