Wife pays tribute to Johan Dempers

Johan Wilhelm Dempers was born on 16 May, 1961 in Johannesburg, but lived most of his life on the coast.

 
“He always told me that he loved water. As a little boy he used to build cascading pools in his parent’s gardens,” said his wife, Zelda.

 
The industrial council for the building industry transferred him to Durban in 1985. “We settled in Amanzimtoti and Johan built our first home, which we are still living in. In 1987 Johan hired a machine to cut away a bank in order to build garages. While he was at work I asked the operator to dig a big hole in the yard. That is where Elegant Pools began. Johan had no choice but to build his first pool, but as with everything Johan touched, the business grew to what it is today.”

 
Johan was a master builder and a member of the National Spa and Pool Industry.

 
“He loved the outdoors and Toti residents would often spot him paragliding over the beach. He had the amazing opportunity to fly between the Patunia twin towers in Kuala Lumpur in 2000.

 
He loved the sea. As a teenager, living in Margate, he spearfished and surfed a lot. A few years ago, he belonged to the Wild Boyz Surf Club in Warner Beach and participated as a grand master.

 
He was a proud member of the Warner Beach Ski-Boat Club and made many good friends and memories there.

 
Johan was an experience skipper and an avid diver, and also a member of the Wahoo Dive Club.”

 
“He was well loved by the community, not only because of his joyful and jovial personality, but because of his giving and helpful nature.”

 
He was proud of his daughter Sonja (27) of Ilovo Beach and son his Marcel (30), who lives in Melbourne, Australia.

 
“Johan was the best husband any woman could want. He was my soulmate, my everything.”

 
Details of a memorial service and the wake at sea will be posted on his Facebook page as details were not available at the time of going to print.

 
Instead of flowers, donate to the NSRI.

 
All work in progress for Elegant Pools will be completed, but thereafter Zelda has decided to close it down, as “it could never be the same without Johan”. “Thank you so much to Johan’s loyal customers, friends and members of the community for all their support over the years.

 
Also, thank you to everyone for the messages of support and kind words during this very difficult time. My husband died doing what he loved most,” said Zelda.

 
He will be missed by Zelda, Marcel, Sonja, Nico, Jan, Monique, family and friends.