Rotary and the community lose a great humanitarian

Georg Lilleike, a well-known figure in Germiston, Edenvale and Bedfordview, passed away on July 11.

He was born on September 29, 1942, and shared his early years with his brothers, Norbert and Roland, on the Swakopmund, Namibia, farm of their parents, Bruno and Lore.

He attended school in Swakopmund and this was followed by extensive studies at Stellenbosch University and Unisa, where Georg earned six degrees and diplomas.

He started his teaching career in Walvis Bay and his working life was dedicated to the education of children.

As a natural teacher, he taught with warmth, patience and conviction and earned the respect, discipline and love of the children.

He was a vigorous and popular headmaster at Germiston High School for many years and retired from the school in 2002, at the age of 60.

Georg enjoyed life to the full and balanced his passion for teaching by excelling in sports, such as judo (Third Dan), soccer (Western Province colours) and, later, golf.

Since the age of 25 when he joined Round Table, Georg served the community with compassion and humility; as a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Knights-Pendragon and a Freemason for 32 years.

Georg married twice; his first wife was Lorraine and his second wife Gwendoline, with whom he raised four children, Richard, Yolande, Werner and Gero.

Five grandchildren completed the family.

Georg’s family, friends, colleagues, fellow Freemasons and members of Rotary celebrated the life and on-going memory of this very special person at a large memorial service, on July 17.