Vale Johannes (Joh) Vis (22nd September 1931 – 4th July 2018)
Joh’s funeral service was held on the 11th July 2018 at the Anglican Church, Berwick. Over 250 friends and family attended including former choristers, together with twenty nine members of Victoria Welsh Choir, of which Joh had been such a staunch and committed member for 15 years having attended his last concert at Rosebud only weeks before.
This entire service had been planned by Joh before his passing and the Rev Ben Sonderlund conducted the service with the active support of the choir’s chaplain Rev Tom Morgan. The service opened with the congregational hymn “Jesus my redeemer” and followed by prayers giving thanks for Joh’s life and for those impacted by his passing. After the reading of Psalm 90 (‘a prayer of Moses the man of God’) the choir rose to sing “Gwahoddiad” in a neat arc facing the congregation.
The tributes were led by Rushan Hewawasam who spoke on behalf of the choir explaining how Joh’s persistence had been responsible for him joining the choir and of Joh’s wholehearted involvement with the choir. Rushan was followed by four members of the family who all spoke in glowing terms of their father’s positive impact on their lives both singly and collectively.
- Joh’s skill and speed as a bricklayer and later as a builder were well known. He completed the decorative brickwork in the west wall of the Darling Road Anglican Church after others had declined the job.
- Later he became a builder and did construction work for the big banks and churches not least his own Berwick Anglican Church.
- not directly referred to today but factually Joh confided that he was often the builder clients turned to when their initial choices had got into difficulty or were simply failing to complete the job to the client’s satisfaction.
- Amongst the family tributes one son spoke of how he had laid some 12000 bricks and pavers at his house and that his brick letterbox was the best in the street.
- All spoke of Joh’s efficiency in his trade, his example at home and of course the family holidays which everybody always enjoyed.
The congregation were then invited to join in a more modern hymn “How deep the Father’s love for us” followed then by a two readings from the book of Galatians read by family members. Rev Tom Morgan gave the sermon referring to verse 12 of Psalm 90. a psalm which both his children and the Rev Ben Sonderlund confirmed Joh knew by heart. This was capped off by the choir’s rendition of “Rhys”.
The service was concluded by the Rev Ben Sonderlund with a closing prayer and benediction to follow by a rousing rendition of “Cwm Rhondda” as the final congregational hymn. Then the congregation were invited to sit as the choir prepared to farewell with the poignant and fitting “Sunset Poem” which brought tears to the eyes of both listeners and performers. The choir then formed a guard of honour as a final farewell to Joh and the family members as they processed out of the church.
The family tribute reinforced what choir members remembered – that Joh was both very capable and successful, but remained a humble unassuming man and a true Christian gentleman.