Pensioner spends 25 years carving own coffin

second hand textbooks. Determined Fred Guentert has now nearly finished his very own tomb, which now weighs over 143kg and 2.1m long.
Painted in the royal colours of the ancient Pharaoh’s, Fred plans to be placed inside his macabre labour of love when he dies.
“I was born in 1922, the year Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon discovered King Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt,” explained Fred, from Orlando, Florida.
“I feel it was fate and it’s given me a lifelong fascination with ancient Egypt. My mother was given a National Geographic magazine featuring the story directly after my birth and she kept it for me. He has been fascinated with Egypt since childhood when his mother gave him a National Geographic article about Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon discovering King Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt, which happened in 1922 — the same year Fred was born
“Since I can remember being able to read I have devoured all information about the ancient kingdoms of Egypt and have spent a lifetime collecting memorabilia from that period. I even visited Egypt 10 years ago to see the ancient antiquities first hand.”
Upon retirement from the United States Post Office, Fred began studying how to begin his future sarcophagus.
“I taught myself all the basics of woodcraft,” said Fred.
“After a great deal of trial and error over the past quarter-of-a-century I now have an eight-pieced sarcophagus made by using everyday chisels, sandpaper and files.
“The coffin is held together simply with wooden dowels and glue.”
Having made sure he fits inside his own coffin with careful measurements, Fred is supported in his morbid-but-fun hobby by 73-year old wife Joyce.
“If he starts getting under my feet I tell him to go off to his workshop and work on his box,” said Joyce.
“It is slightly odd to talk about the coffin he will be buried in, but his passion is ancient Egypt and its culture.
“He would want to be remembered in death for the passions he had in life.”
Decorated in royal golds, green, red and black, Fred has adorned his sarcophagus with Egyptian gods such as the ruler of the underworld Anubis and the god of the afterlife Osiris.
“This has been a great hobby and I am almost finished,” said Fred.
“I do have one last wish before I am placed into the box; that everyone makes sure I am dead before they close it.” — Daily Mail.