Jason Januszke remembered by family and friends after sudden Mt Lofty death

Popular personal trainer Jason Januszke’s wife has shared a heartbreaking tribute as footy stars including Tex Walker and Paddy Ryder mourn their “mentor, friend and brother”.

High-profile AFL stars are among those paying tribute to a one-of-a-kind, “incredible”, loving father with an unwavering devotion to his wife, sons and community after his shock death.

Eastern suburbs personal trainer and father-of-two Jason Januszke, 43, suffered a cardiac arrest while running Mt Lofty on Friday.

“It is with a very broken heart that I share with you the terribly sad news that tragically my darling husband Jase passed away suddenly ... while doing something he loved, running Mt Lofty,” his wife Jess shared on Facebook Saturday morning.

“Thank you for all the messages of love and support over the last 24 hours, I will be wrapping my arms around our two beautiful boys as we try to make sense of a life without him.”

Personal trainer Jason Januszke with wife Jess and sons Tom and Jack pictured celebrating Christmas last year. Picture: Supplied

Owner of Inspire Health & Fitness Studio in the CBD and trainer to a number of Port Adelaide and Crows stars, Mr Januszke has been remembered as a man who always opened his heart to others.

Friends have told The Advertiser that Mr Januszke – father to Tom, 6, and Jack, 4, and beloved husband to wife Jess – was a respected and influential member of the fitness community who championed others’ success.

Port Adelaide players wore black armbands on Saturday to commemorate the 43-year-old, who also worked as a security guard across popular Adelaide nightclubs.

Personal trainer Jason Januszke has been remembered as a devoted husband to his wife Jess and father to sons Tom and Jack. Picture: Supplied

Jason has been remembered as a kind, compassionate and generous father to sons Tom and Jack. Picture: Supplied

Crows star Taylor Walker, with his wife Ellie, paid tribute to Mr Januszke, describing him as a proud father and close friend.

“A man of integrity, genuine care and passion for everything he did. A smile was always on his face because he loved what he did and he loved his family and mates,” Walker said.

“He helped me in a time when I was struggling. Jase, you will never understand what that meant to me and I’ll never be able to tell you. You touched so many people in so many ways. Love ya mate.”

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas also remembered Mr Januszke and his “selfless” nature.

“Jase was more than a training partner he was a great mate. Energetic, driven, generous and selfless he made those in his presence the best form of themselves,” Jonas said.

“Most of all he was a devoted husband and the proudest father, always recounting Tom and Jack’s most recent feats with a smile on his face.”

Former Power star Paddy Ryder told The Advertiser that Jason was an “incredible person” who had helped him through challenging times.

“I will always be grateful for his help and guidance through a tough period of my life in 2016,” Mr Ryder said.

“I’m going to miss the text messages encouraging and checking in on me. My love goes out to Jess and his boys who he adored. RIP my brother.”

Influential young Adelaide chef Will Doak said Mr Januszke always put others before himself.

“Thank you for guiding me and providing me with such clarity on all decisions that life threw at me,” Mr Doak said.

“You were a mentor, friend and brother. I’ll miss you forever mate, thank you for everything. Rest easy brother.”

Crows star Taylor Walker said Mr Januszke “helped me in a time when I was struggling”. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas said Mr Januszke was “more than a training partner, he was a great mate”. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Mr Januszke‘s employee Wojtek Wojtkowski told The Advertiser he was a passionate team player, whose drive for success was motivated entirely by providing the best for his family.

“He would often be open in sharing stories about his children and family and, when doing so, his love for them was clearly evident,” Mr Wojtkowski said.

“He was my boss, he was my colleague, he was my supporter, he was my motivator, he was my inspiration, he was my role model, he was my Polish brother and above all he was my friend in every true sense of the word.”

Other tributes described Mr Januszke has an “incredible man”, “kind caring and genuine” and an “all-round top bloke”.

“Nothing made you happier than seeing your friends kick goals … except your family. We will surround you and make sure the boys know what a compassionate, enthusiastic, generous man their father was,” friend Courtney Christie wrote.

A GoFundMe page set up by friends has received an outpouring of support, which organiser Cassie Barnes-Young said was a testament to the countless lives Mr Januszke and his wife had touched with their own generosity.

This tribute has been written with the support from the Januszke family.