Chapter 21.6 

John David Albert Elers 

12.2.1942 – 10.3.2024

John David Albert Elers

Growing up dad never really talked much about his upbringing, other than the great Dane dogs that granddad James imported. I believe they travelled to various dog shows of which 2 of the dogs become champion dogs. Apparently, dad said they had horses as well that were kept in a paddock elsewhere, the horses were eventually used for dog rolls. Dads horse that he grew a liking to was the last one to go which he was rather upset about. Dad and Uncle Mark’s chores were cleaning the kennels and feeding the animals every day.  As children we only remember going to granddad James’s home in Feilding just the once, but since seeing photos of us being a lot younger we obviously had. I remember the old villa with the big front veranda and the kennels being out the back yard. The boys remembered riding on a sheep’s back through the kitchen and having so much fun, they don’t remember granddad ever telling them off. They recall the house being very clean even with the sheep running about. Granddad to me looked like a big gentle giant and a man of few words. While there granddad had a lovely ole car, not sure what model but he took pride it in that as much as his dogs. Maybe that’s where dad had a liking for cars. We had various cars over the years as kids growing up.

Dad was a hard -working man. He was a self-employed drain layer and business focused. His expertise with drain laying certainly came in handy when we built our own homes. He wouldn’t hear of anyone else doing our drains. Dad worked right up to the age of 78 until covid hit. He did find this hard to take, but at this time his dementia was starting to impact on his ability to work, more so trying to remember where he needed to be on the job and showing up at the wrong place or return to the office. His employers at Hickeys were amazing and arranged for someone to start picking him up and dropping him home every day. Dad also enjoyed gardening and had the best vegetable garden wherever he was.  He was also great with landscaping ideas and implementing them.

As children he wasn’t about much, mum taught us all to write, ride a bike, drive, swim and would support us in our sports. In saying that, we did have lots of fun family holidays visiting the wider family. Mum and dad had a group of friends and travelled overseas a lot with them. Mum being very sporty and competitive in various sports, she even had dad play basketball for the men’s Taupo Tauhara basketball team. They travelled to various tournaments and even played in Fiji.  Dad was also quite athletic, Raymond remembers him saying he would lie at times where he was going to and put his shorts and singlet in a bag and catch a ride with his mates to go to Marton and compete in the athletics. He said he was quite fast and won a few medals. I guess that’s where their moko’s get their sporting talent from.  

Dad later moved to Australia and remarried Maree. He lost contact with his grandchildren and great grandchildren for some years. When he returned to New Zealand he started to reconnect with them. No matter what, dad loved his family whom he visited frequently and travelled everywhere to see them. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. 

I think dads Eulogy below by his grandsons Ricky, Jade, Allan and Beau sums up who he was  

Today, we gather to honour the life and legacy of John David Albert Elers, a man whose presence left an indelible mark on all who knew him. John was born on December 2nd, 1942, and in his time this earth, he embodied a unique blend of qualities that made him truly unforgettable. 

Some might describe John as a grumpy old bastard, and he might have even owned that title with pride. But beneath that gruff exterior lay a complexity that only those who knew him well could appreciate. He had a certain lack of humour at times, a seriousness that permeated his interactions. Yet, it was precisely this seriousness that drove his relentless work ethic. 

John was a man who believed in doing things properly the first time around, for he understood that anything less was simply not worth doing at all. His commitment to excellence was unwavering, a testament to his dedication and integrity. 

But amidst his seriousness, there was a side of John that few were privileged to witness – a side that emerged when he was with his best mate, Jim Kingi. In Jim's company, John's guard would come down, revealing a warmth and camaraderie that contrasted sharply with his usual demeanour. It was in these moments that his heart of gold shone brightest. 

Today, as we bid farewell to John, let us remember him not only for his grumpiness or his seriousness but for the depth of his character. Let us honour his relentless work ethic, his commitment to excellence, and the loyalty he showed to those closest to him. 

Though he may no longer walk among us, John's spirit will live on in the memories we hold dear. May he rest in peace, knowing that he was loved and appreciated for the complex, one-of-a-kind individual he was. 

Rest easy, John David Albert Elers. You will be dearly missed.