ROY DESMOND WAGENER

Or better known by us as Granddad.

Born FEB 1924, grew up in the far north wonderland in the little house at the bottom of Pukenui hill with his sisters Alice, Val, brothers Albert, Wilf, Bill, Brian and Clive, whom I'm sure over a good cuppa would share many a tale on their adventures and mischief.

Having passed his school leaving certificate at the age of 14 he worked in the little smoke of Kaitaia until he made his way south to the BIG smoke of Auckland to work for Ellis Hardy as a fitter/welder. In which this was the time he met Nana, swept her off her feet, put a ring on her finger and whisked her away to Motueka.

Motueka was an adventure in its self for Grandad and Nana with learning to live and work in the sunny tobacco fields, and then in the ruggard high country.

There he worked on a sheep station and hunted for deer in the deep snow.

During this south island adventure great friendships were made and Allan was born. The time soon came to move back home to follow Granddads farming ambition. So he packed the wife, kid and dog into old Josephine and made the trek home.

Back in the far north he settled in Motutangi working extremely hard (a Wagener family trait). Grandad built his old gumfield farm up into a high standard farm. While all this was happening along came my dad David.

Then it was the change from dairy to beef, to a high quality cattle producing farm, As he seemed to always fetch the best price for his animals at the sales!!

The early 70s saw the first Grandchild been born.

Now to think all Grandad did was farm – well you would be wrong as he was a bit of a "Jack of all trades" from building houses and halls to commercial fishing with his brothers, gumdigging, earthmoving, chair man of the local rates payers association – who incidentally they initiated the Raio hall, fire station and many other stuff.

He was well known as the Pianola playing man at the Wagener Museum, a fantastic story teller (even in the middle of his beloved Footy match he could find time to tell you a story), and last but definitely not least the watermelon man.

Yet again Grandad had something else he excelled in - Growing watermelons. Something us girls and our cousins will always remember the school holiday JOB of planting and picking melons.

Grandad put lots of hard work into those melons – totally mystifying other growers as to how he could produce melons before christmas. How many 80 odd year old men have you seen throw watermelons 2 meters away, all day long for several weeks in the hot blazing summer sun?

Alas as many good times there have been, there had been the odd bad.

In the early 90s my father David got very sick and passed away. As hard as it is for any parent to bury their child, Grandad showed his inner strength and vowed to do his best to look after us girls.

He became our main male role figure and mentor. Dealing with us girls must have been difficult for him and nana, as they only ever had sons. With 3 modern young girls heading into teens he had to deal with their antics and way of life.

But im glad to say he has done well he's taught us honesty, good work ethics, the importance of family (which was extremely important to him), and other high values to have in life.

And WOOPs I must not forget how to fish with a Kite!!

I remember it was Grandad who drove me to netball trainings in town, to Whangarei for my braces (where we had the odd cheesy pizza or Georgie pie treat with strict instructions "don't tell nana") He looked after my sisters and helped them through their life challenges.

Grandad has always been there for us, for which we are very grateful and have tried our best to never disappoint him, we feel he was the best Grandfather that anyone ever had and we will miss him deeply.

So I leave you with these few words though I feel there is never enough to say, as he has helped everyone here in one way or another be it with wise advice, physical work, or just general support.

ROY DESMOND WAGENER
Proud father of 2, Grandfather of 8, Great Grandfather of 5
A husband, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, a highly respected friend.
A man with a great sense of humour that liked to help people was our Grandad.

Go rest in peace we will never forget you xxx.