Submitted by fellow firm mate Mark Stuart

Theo passed away in 2007

Theo and Annchen

Theo was one of my group of six during our final clinical years at Wits. Best as I can recall for two of those years he held down a full time male nurse  job at Wenela. Theo graduated in 1966, Annchen Hansen and he were married in 1967 and they had three boys between 1968 and 1971.

He loved deep sea fishing [for which he earned Provincial colors] and hunting, mainly in Botswana.

Theo served for two years in the army and then joined his father in practice in Kempton Park.

He took time out to specialize in industrial medicine and in addition to his private practice became Chief Medical Officer at Atlas Aircraft.

In 1984 he and his family moved to Canada where he joined his elder brother Eric in practice in Tisdale, Saskatchewan. They developed an innovative model of practice integrating primary and specialist care in their rural community hospital. This was not only appreciated by their patients but was recognized with an award from the state which went on to emulate it in other communities.

Theo and Annchen raised three fine young men, who have gone on to excel in their chosen fields. All three married and Theo delighted in his grandchildren. This fun loving tightly knit family embraced the huge change in climate and culture they experienced in moving to Canada. Substituting ice fishing for the coast of Mocambique and moose for Botswana buffalo he continued his love of the outdoors! He and his family displayed remarkable stoicism in dealing with the mesothelioma which he fought for two years before dying in 2007.

Theo is greatly missed not only by his family but also his friends and the community he so faithfully served.

Theo and grandchild