The Vaal loses a legendary lady
Throughout her life Hansine Wagner had a deep-rooted interest in helping those in need
Retha Fitchat
SASOLBURG. – One of the Vaal Triangle’s legendary ladies, Mrs Hansine Wagner (84), passed away on June 12 after suffering a number of health related setbacks in the past two years. Mrs Wagner will be remembered as a dynamic member of Standard Bank Vanderbijlpark’s management team in die 1980s and the first female president of the Vanderbijlpark (luncheon) Rotary Club.
She worked for Standard Bank for 40 years. In addition to her professional career, many local residents knew her as a woman who worked tirelessly to help the underprivileged in different ways. Throughout her life she had a deep-rooted interest in helping those in need.
Hansine (Stalling) was born in Scheveningen in the Netherlands and was five years old when her parents first brought her to South Africa in 1939, the year WW2 broke out. After completing her education, Hansine worked for the old United Party’s youth movement.
She married British civil servant, Fritz Wagner in 1954. His job took them all over Southern and Central Africa. Mrs Wagner’s association with Standard Bank started in 1955 as a bank employee in the former Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. When they later moved to the Vaal Triangle, she immediately started working as the head cashier at the local branch. In 1972, she was promoted to the management department. In 1974, her life changed radically with the death of her husband. As the single parent of her son Garrick (then 6), she devoted even more of her time to him and her work. In 1984, this feisty woman with a passion for people, especially those in need, became assistant manager of Standard Bank, Vanderbijlpark and retired in July 1993.
Mrs Wagner became a fully-fledged Rotarian of the Vanderbijlpark club in 1996. Two years later in 1998 she became the first female president of the club. She received an Honorary Life Membership Award from her Rotary Club and the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award for Community Service on three occasions. She was also a member of the Vereeniging Art Society, of the Etienne Rousseau Theatre Association, the “Club Technikon 2001” and the Toastmistresses’ Association (Kiepersol) of which she was treasurer and also president.
In her younger years Mrs Wagner was also a very active member of International Training in Communication (ITC) in Sasolburg. This organisation, which had its beginnings in Toastmasters, mainly focused on individuals committed to self-development. It was at the launch in Sasolburg when, over 40 years ago, she met well-known Dr Jenny Pretorius of Vanderbijlpark, who remained a very close friend through the years.
“Hansine, my dear friend, will be remembered for her directness and contribution to society. Dr Doug Kroon made her last years extremely happy. His admirable support and care for her, in his home, right to the end, was what she wanted. May she rest in eternal peace,” says Dr Pretorius.
Apart from Dr Kroon, her fiancée, Mrs Wagner is also survived by her son, Garrick, her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
A service in honour of Mrs Wagner will be held at 11:00 on Wednesday, June 28 in the Buitepos Hall (the former Spectrum Hall) at 6 Carlyle Court, SW1, Vanderbijlpark.
Photos of Hansine through the years:
