The last Millicent World War II returned serviceman and retired Millicent grazier Fred Ellis was honoured by 300 mourners at his graveside funeral at the Millicent Lawn Cemetery last week.
The one-time Able Seaman had died at Boneham Aged Care Services on September 21 at the age of 97.
His service to the community had been remarkable after taking up a Soldier Settler block at Canunda over 60 years ago.
Mr Ellis was an elected member of the former Millicent District Council and served as a Justice of the Peace for 30 years.
He had been involved with the Lions Club, RSL, Liberal Party, Millicent Agricultural Bureau, Masonic Lodge, Probus, Caledonian Society and Uniting Church.
Wattle Range Council named Mr Ellis as its Senior Citizen of the Year in 2015.
Eulogies were delivered by Wattle Range Funerals celebrant Nadine DiGiorgio, family members, Millicent RSL president Chris Mathias and Millicent Lions Club president Brenton McMillan.
“Fred Ellis was a humble, generous and caring man and dedicated to his family, his farm and his community,” Ms DiGiorgio said.
Born at the Lameroo Hospital and raised on a Mallee farm which featured working horses, Mr Ellis boarded with his grandmother in Adelaide in his early teenage years.
His three years spent at Urrbrae Agricultural College led to his attainment of the Intermediate Certificate.
Farmwork at properties in the Kangarilla and Clarendon area followed.
He served in his teens aboard minesweepers with the Royal Australian Navy from 1945-47.
The dangerous work aboard HMAS Cowra was undertaken in the waters of Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Mr Ellis spoke of his wartime experiences with ABC Radio in April of this year and the pre-recorded interview was played on Anzac Day across South Australia.
Around 1943, he met Kath and their six-year courtship culminated in their wedding at the Clarendon Methodist Church.
Together, they raised a family of four sons and two daughters and it has grown to 17 grand children and 25 great children.
In retirement, they travelled extensively and Kath died several years ago.
During their first decade of marriage, they moved six times before settling at Canunda.
His 97th birthday was in May and Mr Ellis spent the twilight years of his life at Boneham Aged Care Services in Millicent.
As befitting his standing in the community, his funeral was attended by member for Barker Tony Pasin, Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll and his immediate predecessor Peter Gandolfi.
Other past and serving local government identities in attendance included Frank Brennan, Jamie Sutherland, Moira Neagle, John Drew and Dr Kevin McGrath.
Mourners were greeted on arrival by traditional bagpipe laments played by Barry Ward of the RSL Blue Lake Highland Band.
Lions and RSL members formed a guard of honour as the mortal remains of Mr Ellis were carried from the hearse to the grave.
The traditional RSL ritual formed part off the funeral.
At the conclusion of the service, a light luncheon for mourners was served at the Lions Den in Millicent.
