Farewell to an educator, a father, husband and of course a gentleman

Fanie Voges (Stephanus Francois) died Monday, March 2 at Newcastle Mediclinic, after a brief illness. He was 88 years old. He is survived by his children, Erika and Stephan, five grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters. He will be greatly missed.
He was born on a farm near Hondeklipbaai in Namakwaland from where the family moved to Kanoneiland. He matriculated at Upington High School and obtained his teaching diploma from the Paarl Teachers Training College.
Fanie spent all of his adult life as an educator in Natal (mostly Northern Natal) teaching several generations of school children. His first teaching post was in Winterton, followed by Amanzimtoti, Babanango, Ladysmith, Vryheid, Dundee, Utrecht and then Glencoe.
He was principal at Glencoe Primary School from 1971 until his retirement in 1986. After retirement, Fanie and Rikie moved to a smallholding in Craigieburn, where they lived until moving to Dundee in 2004.

Caravaning
Caravaning was Fanie’s great love. He was a founding member and longtime chairman of the Northern Natal chapter of the Caravan Club of South Africa. He was also a recognised expert on the history and battlefields of Northern Natal, and very much enjoyed sharing this knowledge with visitors to the area.
“Fanie was a very independent-minded person,” said his daughter, Erika Ravenscroft, who lives in Ireland.
“He insisted on living in his own home until the very end. This would not have been possible without the caring and support of lifelong friends and neighbours. The family would like to thank Dad’s friends and neighbours, as well as the broader Dundee community, for this.”
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 25 at 10 am in the Dutch Reformed Church, Moedergemeente, on the corner of Beaconsfield and Willson Streets.