Former Southbroom Town Board chairman Carl Wentzel dies, aged 101
Mr Wentzel was a regular golfer at Southbroom Golf Club, as well as a proud member of the Quaggas, Nomads and Sages, playing an active part in the administration of these sporting bodies.
Hibiscus Retirement Village’s Carl Vincent Wentzel (101) will be sorely missed by his friends and family.
Mr Wentzel, who had lived in Southbroom for many years before moving to the retirement village, died on April 16.
His memorial service was held at the Margate Retirement Village on April 23.
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Mr Wentzel was born in Carnarvon on November 3, 1917 and was the eldest son of Sarah (née van der Spuy) and Llewellyn Wentzel.
He studied at Rondebosch Boys’ High where he enjoyed all sports, especially rugby, at which he excelled, before studying for his CA.
Mr Wentzel played rugby for Villagers and was a loyal supporter of this club all his life and a passionate WP supporter.
He enlisted in the SAAF when war broke out and was sent to Bloemfontein as an instructor where, among others, he taught Bobby Locke to fly and they became lifelong friends.
Mr Wentzel met his wife, Esme in Cape Town in 1939 and they were married in 1940 at the Simmer and Jack Mine home of Esme’s parents, Archie and Dulcie Kennedy, where Archie was mine manager.
Their three daughters, Lynn, Jill and Pat, were all born in Somerset West.
After the war, Mr Wentzel worked for Distillers Corporation in Stellenbosch and he and his family lived in Somerset West until 1955, when Mr Wentzel joined Gordon’s Gin and was transferred to the Transvaal, upon which the family moved to Germiston.
Mr Wentzel was Lion President in Germiston for many years, a post he thoroughly enjoyed. In 1976 he retired and he and Esme moved to Southbroom, where they became happily involved in the community.
Mr Wentzel was chairman of the Southbroom Town Board and was known and respected for his firm handling of civic responsibilities.
He and Esme loved living near the sea and enjoyed daily early morning swims. They travelled widely during their early retirement years, to the Far East, Europe and the Americas.
Mr Wentzel was a regular golfer at Southbroom Golf Club, as well as a proud member of the Quaggas, Nomads and Sages, playing an active part in the administration of these sporting bodies.
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He served as golf captain and chairman and hosted an annual visit by the Royals, a group of Johannesburg golfers.
After Esme died in 1997, Carl remained in Southbroom until 2010, when he moved to the Hibiscus Retirement Village, where he made friends easily and was an extremely hospitable and generous host.
His life spanned 10 historic decades of great change: he was born in World War I, fought in World War II, witnessed the birth of the electronic age and lived through many a great change in South Africa – and the world.
He maintained his interest in current affairs, kept in close touch with his grandchildren and was very proud of their achievements.
He is survived by his three daughters, seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
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