G S Beissel (1924-2013)

Gordon Stuart Beissel was born on the 5th of January 1924 at the home of his parents William George Beissel and Ruth Beissel at 2 Sydney Street, Invercargill. He was the youngest child and from a large family, two older full blooded brothers Geoffrey and George and a sister Ruth, he also had two half brothers to his mother Ruth's first marriage to George William Winton, and three half brothers to his father's first marriage to Annie Rose. Both his parent's meet after their first marriage ended with the death of their spouse.

At the age of five years and 8 months Gordon started at Invercargill North School on September 11th 1929 and was in P1 on admission in English. Gordon progressed through School and in 1932 was in S1 and in 1933 was in S2. Gordon left Invercargill North School on June 19th 1935 as his family was moving to Petone with his father getting a new job on the Wellington Railways. On arrival in Petone Gordon was enrolled in Petone West School where he finished his education.

On the 27th of December 1936 at the age of 12 years disaster struck Gordon's family with the death of his parent's shared eldest son Godffrey. Godffrey who was 22 years old and married with a young daugher went swimming with several family members in the Waihopai River at Longbush near Invercargill. He remained longer in the water than his other family members and twice sank before anyone realised anything was wrong. One of his family members (who could not swim went to his aid to no avail. Godrey drowned. The death of Gordon's brother hit the family hard and Gordon always had a photo of his brother close by him in his home (in later life) so that he always was remembered and not forgotten.

Gordon left school at the age of 14 years old and became a apprentice diessel mechanic at C.A. Odlins Timber mill in Nevis Street, Petone, Wellington. Times were tough when he got a job and he did not have a means of transport to go to work so being a resourceful man he built himself a bicycle out of bits and pieces he found in the yard. This worthy stead carried him from work to home everyday. It was at Odlins Gordon gained an appreciation for gardening as during slack times he would work in the odlins gardens. Gordon continued living with his parents at their home of 27 Sydney Street, Petone, Wellington while working. During this time Gordon joined in 1938 the KoroKoro Fire Brigade in Petone as a runner (messanger boy) and he was there until he left for war.

Before the War Gordon would go dancing at the local dance hall, he loved dancing, where he would meet women. Gordon was very good with the ladies and his smile would enchant any woman under his spell. One night he made a date, and the next night he made another. When he went to the train station one day he saw both the girls talking to each other and he made a quick retreat before they saw him. One girl was margaret Crone and the other was Shirley Ethel Agnes Treen. He later decided to go out with Margaret before going to War and became engaged to her before he left and she promised to wait for his return.

War broke out on September the 1st 1939 when Germany invaded Poland wthout warning.

Gordon wanted to go off to war when War broke out in 1939 but he was only 15 years old. Gordon waited and in early 1941 he could not wait any longer (he had not long turned 17 years old) and he thought why not lie my age to the recruiters and say i'm 18 years old, so he did. On the March 26th 1941 he went to Wellington and made an attestation for service in time of War, within and beyond New Zealand. At the time he was single and said he prefered to join the artillery. Gordon's description on enlistment was that he had a medium complexion, blue eyes, Dark Brown hair and had a height of 5 foot 8 inches.

Gordon's parents were against him joining the War effort, his father more than his mother - his father did not like Gordon fighting against his ancestral homeland (Gordon's granfather was German). His mother was worried about losing her youngest son to the War.

Gordon saw much human misery and suffering throughout his time in the 2nd NZEF and it changed his views and outlook on life forever.

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When Gordon came back from War in 1946 he resumed his position as a diesel mechanic and being a volunteer Fire fighter for the KoroKoro brigade. Gordon came back to find things had changed his finace Margaret had moved on with a man named Bryan Benger Treen and they were engaged - Bryan had came back from the War earlier than Gordon and had woed his girlfriend. Gordon was angry and hurt at Margaret but knew he needed to move on. Gordon went back to dancing at the local dance hall after the War and there he met up with Shirley whom he dated briefly before the War and would see "quite regularly as she lived near [him] and...would pass in the street." Several dates later Gordon and Shirley hit it off and they fell in love. After some time Gordon proposed to Shirley and she said "yes."Gordon and Shirley married at the Laings Road Methodist Church in Lower Hutt.

Gordon WWII Shirley - late 1940s

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by historymanGordon and Shirley on their first date in 1947 in the Lower Hutt Gardens. by historyman

Gordon and Shirley at their Wedding reception (03/01/1948)

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Gordon and his sister, parents, and brother on his Wedding (03/01/1948)

Gordon and Shirley after they got married decided to rent a home together so they looked and around and decided to settle on a state home in 7 Manson Street, Lower Hutt (which was close to their families and Gordon's job at Odlins). This home did not last long and little than a year later they left the Wellington region and came to Levin, this was due to Gordon getting a job at one of the local garages (Hudson and Burnham) as a motor Mechanic. Gordon and Shirley acquired a rental home at 80 Winchester Street in Levin. The Winchester Street home only lasted a few years and the young expanding family needed more room so they looked for a new State home to live. They found a new State home in Dorset Street at No. 16.

Gordon's older children can remember when the fire siren went off at night, Gordon would leap out of bed and get his kit out of the wardrobe and Shirley would get out of bed at the same time and get Gordon's bike ready at the door, she would steady the Bike and Gordon jumped on and went down the road to the fire station.

The family in the early 1960s then moved to Dunbar Street No 4 due to space and the expansion of the family and remained there until the middle of the 1990s.

Gordon would go between Hudson and Burnham and Bird's garage in Levin for work in the 1950s to early 1960s. He used to tell his family the story how one day he lost his job I think it was at Hudson and Burnham and he did not go home straight away he went for a haircut and then he went and aksed to get a job at bird's garage and he got one, all on the same day - it reminds us of the saying "get a haircut, get a real job." Gordon always used to say "Never leave a job on bare terms, you never know when you might need it back." The early 1960s saw the family expand further and the need for more money saw a total change in work for Gordon. Gordon had been a motor mechanic since he was a teenage and it was not paying enough so it saw him get a job at Kimberely being a male nurse. Male nursing at Kimberley paid better than being a mechanic and he could get extra shifts, which he did. Gordon also fixed cars for money in his spare time to make ends meet. Gordon stayed at Kimberely until he retired in 1984 at the age of 60 years, he spent 20 years there and only accumulated four sick days - a feat he was proud of.

Gordon joined the Levin fire Brigade in the early 1951 first in the levin fire police then in the brigade. It was a huge investment in his time and a commitment to his community but Gordon was committed to helping his community and enjoyed the comradery of the fire service. Fire service became a big part of his life. Gordon remained in the Levin Fire brigade for 37 years and retired in 1988 at the age of 64 years.

by historyman Levin Fire Police c.1950s - Gordon (second from left)

Gordon was asked to join the Scottish Pipe Band in the late 1950s, which he accepted. In 1959 he became the acting drum major and the drill instructor and the next year he became the full time drum major, a position he remained in until 1980. In 1980 he felt it was time to hand the mace to someone younger. It was a bit of a juggling act being a fire fighter and a drum major in the Scottish Pipe Band but he tried to manage both as one story goes "...the pipe band was leading a parade, when the siren went off and the drum major handed his mace to someone else and took off down the road to the fire station, his kilt was so high you could see everything when he got to the fire station." The high point of Gordon's career in the band was in 1974 when he won the staff flourishing, he beat the Drum Major of New Zealand's champion Pipe Band at the time, the city of Wellington by seven points. This was the first staff flourishing competition Gordon had entered since joining the band, he had only been talked into entering the competition a couple of weeks before. In 1983 he was made a life member of the Horowhenua Scottish Society's Highland Pipe Band, which he was proud to hold as he was only the 14th person to be awarded life membership since 1954.

by historyman The Levin Pipe Band marching (Gordon is in the front)

by historyman The Levin Pipe Band marching down a Street in Petone (Gordon is in the front)

After he left the Pipe Band he was persuaded to join the Brass Band in a similar role, a role he remained in for 16 years. It is amazing that Gordon done all this without being able to read a note of music.

by historyman The Brass Band with Gordon leading as Drum Major down (south) Bristol Street, Levin.

by historyman Gordon and Shirley at their nephew's wedding on the 02/01/1971

In 1972 Shirley was out in the garden and she felt funny down one side and she got worried and told Gordon so he rang the ambulance, the ambulance rang and she was rushed to hospital where she went into a coma. Gordon was told Shirley had a massive stroke and to be prepared for the worst. Even though Shirley was in a coma she could still hear what people were saying around her but could not respond to what they were saying, she said she could hear the nurses saying "that lady over there is going to die." Shirley was adamant that was not going to be her fate and kept thinking to herself she was going to make it. When Gordon came to see her he would talk about the home, the children and the future to keep Shirley positive and remind what and who she was fighting to stay alive for. Shirley remained in Hospital for some time and Gordon would finish night shift and go and see her and sit and talk to her. It was an exhausting regime for Gordon but he remained strong for his wife and family. Shirley eventually came home but was paralysed down one side of her body and could not be as active as she once was, Gordon looked after her for the next 30 years of her life, supporting and nursing her, devoted till the end.

On the 3rd of January 1998 Gordon and Shirley celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary at their son's home with all their family present it was a joyous occasion and the anniversary was even reported in the local newspaper The Chroncle. Not long after one of Gordon and Shirley's children suggested that Shirley should go into a home to take the burden off of Gordon (he had been looking after Shirley for over 25 years at that point and was 74 years old). Gordon did not at first want to put his wife into care but he discussed it with Shirley at length and they finally came to a decision to go into care was the best option for them both. Horowhenua hospital was chosen as the facility to look after Shirley. In late 1998 Shirley entered Horowhenua hospital. Gordon would visit Shirley twice a day (in the morning and at night) and sit and talk with her for hours on end, and take her around the Hospital grounds in a wheelchair. They would watch TV together in the lounge or near her bed at night and twice a week it would be their favourite soap - Coronation Street. The longer Shirley was in the Hospital she became progressively sicker and she passed away June 20th 2003 with Gordon by her side till the end.

After Shirley's passing Gordon was lost and needed something to try to fill the gap in his life so he became more involved in various clubs which he was a member: The probus club, The lions club, stroke support group, Caci club, rose society, RSA. He enjoyed many outings with these clubs, helping out, and the social aspect they brought to his life in his later years.

by historyman Gordon in his Honda Civic car

In late 2008, Gordon realised he could not look after himself anymore and did not want to be a burden on his family so he chose to go in a retirement home. Gordon chose Te Whanau in Levin and he remained there for the rest of his life. It was sad for his family seeing his decline and he always said he did not want to end his days in a home but God had other plans. Gordon died on the night of the 12th of April 2013 after complaining he could not breathe. Gordon was then reunited with his wife of 55 years, and they walked together into the next life.

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The Headstone of Gordon and Shirley Beissel (12/04/2014)