Hans Wenzel 24 September 1929 – 11 May 2025

Greg Numa

To my dear loving wife, Your father who I had the pleasure of knowing for more than 20 odd years meant this to me. Hans was a man of strength - mentally tough, not dissimilar to my own father. Stoic and resilient. Resourceful. I loved the way he cared for and about his grandchildren. When you went back to live in Point Lonsdale after your divorce it was so you could get back on your feet with the support of your parents,. School pickups, sports, baby sitting - he and Mare were there. He was a very kind and generous grandfather to Winks and Charlie. He fixed bikes, he fixed anything that was broken. Back then he could drive and was independent. He played golf, he skied. So many times over the past 10 years I had written him off, yet he just kept getting up. The Russians have a saying for such a man - “Stoykiy Muzhik” It means Resilient Man or Tough Man. That would best describe your father to me. There are many people you meet in your lifetime, every one different and everyone has an impact - good not so good. Your father was honest, kind and caring. Fathers have a responsibility to their family - provide for them, educate them, make them feel secure, no matter what that takes. Your father did that in spades. He was a good, decent man. When we look back at his long life, we would all wonder how he was able to survive to 21, let alone 95. War torn Germany. Something no one today in Australia will ever experience. Hans Wenzel not only experienced it, he lived through it and found his way to Australia. It is hard to even imagine what courage and conviction that would have taken a boy at the age of 15 to do. Yet in all his years, he never looked back and blamed it for his lot in life. He did not suffer PSD - ADHD - stress related illness all the bullshit that our weakest of society come up with an excuse for why they do not get ahead. I loved your Dad for the very man he was and the man I knew for as long as I have. I would have gladly wiped his bum and lifted him in and out of his wheel chair for as long as needed, because he was a true tough and resilient fella. That is called respect and he had mine. He is gone, never forgotten and will forever remain the tough little German fella he was. I am enormously proud having been able to call him my father -in-law. Love always Greg xxx