Tributes flow for John Geurts after death in hospital

A Gympie businessman who started his journey in Australia with nothing more than a passport has died after a long and happy life, surrounded by family and friends.

The Gympie community is mourning the loss of a talented man who started his journey in Holland and ended in the Queensland town.

A beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who touched the hearts of his family, friends and wider community members died on Saturday, October 22, 2022, surrounded by love and laughter in the Gympie Hospital.

John Geurts, born and raised in Holland, started a hairdressing apprenticeship before he became a skipper on a boat, his wife Annette Geurts said.

He stayed in the industry until his boat sailed to Australia.

In 1959, docked in the waters of Sydney, Mr Geurts and his mates walked off the boat with nothing but a passport and a pack of cigarettes and never got back on, Mrs Geurts said.

Mr Geurts took up hairdressing once again, working in chain stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide between 1959 and 1971 until he moved to New Zealand.

A young John Geurts in Sydney between 1959 and 1960.

A memorable encounter at a New Zealand train station in 1978, led to a long and loving relationship for John and Annette.

With a camel-skin coat and “beautiful hair,” Mr Geurts disappeared after he was introduced to a girl by his friends, Mrs Geurts said.

Shortly after, he returned with a magazine and a box of scorched almonds for the girl’s long train journey.

The two were together from that day forward.

“He was my champion and the love of my life for 40 years,” Mrs Geurts said.

“I could not have gotten a better man.”

There was rarely a time where the pair weren’t in each other’s company – they lived together, worked together and spent little time away from each other.

John Geurts in the 1970s when he met his partner-for-life.

When they flew back to Australia with two suitcases and $500 in hand, the pair worked briefly at the Gold Coast and then Brisbane until they drove up to Gympie and started Hair Review in 1979 at Gympie Village, where Central Shopping Centre now stands.

Before they bought Florist of Distinction in 1995, the couple sold their salon and stayed in Europe for four months.

They kept the florist until five years ago.

Mr Geurts died in Gympie Hospital on Saturday morning, with his loved ones and Hair Review staff by his side.

John Geurts died on October 22, 2022 with his friends and family by his side.

“It was a calm, peaceful, beautiful death,” Mrs Geurts said.

They laughed, told jokes, cried and shared stories until he died “with grace”.

“It was just a beautiful experience.”

Mrs Geurts said her husband was a man who never stopped singing whether it was in the shower or in the street.

He sang with Karyn de Vere every Tuesday, and Mrs de Vere will sing at his funeral on November 1, at St Patrick‘s Catholic Church.

John and Annette Geurts decided they would stay in Gympie after their time in Europe.

Mr Geurts was a proud man – he was proud of his singing and proud of his son who was “just like him.”

Yet, he was never a boastful man, Mrs Geurts said.

He supported his wife in her endeavours and encouraged her to do her best and beyond to help people.

A man who would never hold a grudge, showed kindness and inspired her to forgive others.

“He was always there – backing me, helping me and holding me up,” Mrs Geurts said.

“We will miss him and it will be hard on Tuesday.”