GEORGE NEWS - Rupert Wortmann is fondly remembered for his gentle smile, love of beach walks and his generosity towards local charities. A celebration of his life was held at the Full Gospel Church in George on 24 October.
He spent 15 years working in the printing division of George Herald and Group Editors and virtually had ink in his veins, having worked late night shifts to keep the machines rolling. In his retirement he was better known for his parkrun achievements, reaching high levels of fitness as part of a group of friends.
Rupert was born at St Anne's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. Being of German descent, he went to a German speaking school called Wartburg Kirchdorf High School in the quaint German settlement town of Wartburg in KwaZulu-Natal, as his family lived on a farm in the area.
He married and divorced Lorna Sanders and they had two daughters, Brigitte and Belinda, who reside in England. He is also survived by five grandchildren.
He began his apprenticeship at the Natal Witness, later worked in Benoni on a newspaper for a couple of years, then at the Republican Press in Durban and later the Natal Witness before moving to George Herald where, after 15 years of service as a printing machine minder, he retired.
Rupert and his life partner, Veronica Jaquire, enjoyed bringing joy to the lives of the children at Môreson Child and Youth Care Centre, where one of their contributions was to provide the birthday party cakes and eats for the children at Number 6. Rupert also contributed monthly to the Mosterdsaadjie Voedingsprojek Feeding Scheme.
Rupert's hiking friends fondly recall his enjoyment in participating in 191 parkrun runs with a best time of 35:05.
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