Jarrod Bleijie, Kawana MP, has paid tribute to his late grandfather who passed away suddenly last month

Jarrod Bleijie has paid tribute to his “larrikin” grandfather, who passed away suddenly at 91 years old.

Jarrod Bleijie has paid tribute to his grandfather Jack.

A Sunshine Coast family say there is a “giant hole in their hearts” after the sudden passing of 91-year-old Jacobus Bleijie.

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie revealed last month that his beloved grandfather, Jacobus “Jack” Jan Bleijie had died on August 17.

“Grandad unexpectedly passed away this morning,” Mr Bleijie said on Facebook.

“So unexpected and sudden that none of us got to say goodbye.”

Mr Bleijie told the Daily his grandfather was a bit of a “larrikin” who wasn’t afraid to be outspoken and loved his independence.

He said Jack was “dearly loved” by his family.

Jack Bleijie passed away last month at 91 years old.

Jack had been living in care at Little Mountain since 2019, and Mr Bleijie said everyone at the centre loved him.

“(They) loved Jack for his larrikin ways and at times outspokenness, he never lost the ability to put someone in their place if he thought they needed it,” he said.

“He really was dirty on all of us when he couldn’t drive anymore, however, he was quite happy when we got him a motorised wheelchair, he loved having his independence back.

“The staff were always telling him to slow down in the corridors.”

Jarrod Bleijie and his grandfather Jack.

Mr Bleijie said his grandfather survived three years in a Japanese Civilian Camp during World War II.

He and his family were in separate camps in Indonesia, and when Jack was 15, a Red Cross worker managed to smuggle him a note with the name of the camp his father and his brother were in.

“Jack told us lots of stories of his family’s time in the camps and we were always intrigued by how tough those times were and how well he related the stories to us, his memory was phenomenal,” Mr Bleijie said.

“When the Second World War ended in September 1945 Jack made his way in a horse-drawn cart to the other camp and was reunited with his family and they made their way back to Holland.”

Jarrod Bleijie has paid tribute to his late grandfather Jack Bleijie.

In Holland, Jack joined the navy where he learnt the craft of scientific instrument making, a trade he continued until retirement.

Mr Bleijie said his grandfather and his brother Henk, travelled to Australia in 1953.

He said his grandfather moved around, first spending some time in Sydney before moving up to Brisbane, and then back to Griffith NSW where he started working at the CSIRO.

It was in Griffith that Jack met his future wife, Myra.

They were married in March 1955 and had celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this year.

They had two children, and the family grew from there, welcoming six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mr Bleijie said Jack loved the outback and family holidays were spent fossicking for agates, sapphires and opals, an interest which he kept well into his 80s.

“Up until 3 years ago Jack and Myra would still drive to White Cliffs NSW to meet up with their long-term friend Cliff and stay in his dug out with him and fossick to his heart’s content,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Dad, Jack, Jacko, Grandad, Da has left behind a giant hole in all our hearts.”