By Bronwyn Adams

Former Mayor of Deneysville, Matthys Johannes Campher, born August 1st 1935, passed away peacefully on Sunday 9 July, a few weeks short of his 88th birthday.
Husband to Charlotte Jacoba (Lottie) Campher (84) for six decades; Thys (as he was affectionately named), was father of five children; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
He was a bastion of society, a real role-model and essentially a “ware gentleman”, to use a description in Afrikaans that exemplifies his character.
Growth epitomized Thys Campher, be it in business, politics and his personal and family life – hence his wife referring to him as “Big Chief Sitting Bull”, with specific reference to his cast iron decision making capabilities!
Single-minded he may have been but multiples characterised his pathway throughout his life. And he squared up to every challenge.
Thys and his family moved to Deneysville in 1981 where he opened a branch of Chase & Sons Properties. Thereafter, he started his own business, Thys Campher Estates, his second dab at the industry – which became the chief real estate agency in the area, clearly embraced by the community of Deneysville.
The agency grew with galloping speed over four decades – it was sold to Marinda Bierman in 2017, transferred under his guiding hand.
Simultaneously, he entered into politics and became Mayor, not once but twice, in the 90’s! (He continued to serve as a councillor until 2006.)
Property mogul; politician; mentor and ‘man about town’ were the facets of Thys Campher, yet he was described by his nearest and dearest as ‘a loving head of the family, warm, generous of spirit and forever conveying ethical and moral principles’.
Despite all his worldly achievements material goods were way down on his list of accomplishments.
His priorities were probably best captured by a sincere gesture made by himself to his wife on a regular basis; the habitual handing to Lottie of a bountiful bunch of flowers.
The marking of a truly, colourful life.
RIP Thys Campher.