Tausie Tarsau

Tarsau, Tausie Mesulama (Major Retired)

Passed away peacefully on September 21^st, at 10am.

Will be missed by his dearly beloved wife Cate and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tausie’s farewell gathering will be at 10:30am on Thursday 24 September at the Park Lane Church in Upper Hutt.

Messages to the family may be made online at https://lychgate.co.nz/send-a-tribute/ or posted c/- 306 Willis Street, Aro Valley, Wellington, 6011.

TRIBUTES

Janet Castell

Condolences Cate I am sorry that I am unable to attend Tausie service bit I will be thinking of both of you. May he rest in peace and you find comfort from family and friends. I will be in touch

Kiji Sheffet

We are deeply sad to hear of the passing of our dear beloved Uncle Tausie. We will always remember his kindness, love and special memories we shared during our Family Reunion in Suva, Fiji 2018. Even though we live faraway in Utah, USA, please know we are thinking of you all, praying for comfort, peace and strength and sending all our love.
Hanisiof,
Kiji and family

Adams Family

We pass on our sincere love and prayers of comfort to the extended Tarsau Whānau at this time.

Tēnei te mihi maioha ki a koutou te whānau pani.

Rob Hitchings

Another beautiful man and true gentleman is lost.
My thoughts with you Cate and all the family as you move through this sad chapter.
I can’t be with you in person for the service but will be watching here in Brisbane as we all share memories of such a wonderful man.

Treyci Maynard

Sending all our love from afar but know we are near your hearts. We grieve with you all.
Arohanui atu I tawhiti, kei te whakaaro tonu mātou kia koutou, ā, Kei te noho tata tonu ō mātou aroha kia koutou hoki xxxxx

Nā Treyci me Rachel xxxxx

Andrew and Fiona Dowse

Tars was always a generous and warm friend, and we will miss him dearly. He was the kind of person that people relied on without hesitation. He showed up consistently whether the moment called for laughter, honesty, practical help or quiet understanding. We are thinking of you Cate and the whole family and hope you find comfort in being together. “To live in hearts, we leave behind is not to die”. (Thomas Campbell)

Syd Dewes

Tars … Tarsau …. just the mention of your name and what immediately springs to mind is your big smile. That will not change. We are all the richer for having known you. Moe mai, moe mai ra e hoa – Ni qai gole ena vakacegu. Rest in peace. We will miss you.
Dear Cate. I am sad I cannot be at the service in person. My deepest condolences to you, your tamariki, moko’s, and the wider Tarsau whanau at this very sad time. My thoughts and prayers for you all. Arohanui

John Howard

Dear Cate and family. Please accept our deepest condolences at the passing of our great mate Tausie. Please also accept our apologies for not being able to attend his funeral in person. Throughout my service with him I had nothing but the deepest personal and professional respect for him as a warrior. In my younger days in the RNZIR he was always the voice of reason and calm when we were all seeking to challenge the status quo. It was my honour to serve with him. His example was always authentic and appropriate. He is now, like so many good soliders, woven into the very fabric of our Regimental Colours. I miss him, I miss that great smile. I wish that I had better words to honour his service. Sending our love, Onward. John and Amanda Howard

Alan and Kate Marriott

Cate, we are so sorry for your loss. Tars was such a kind and gentle man, and a true gentleman. It was a privilege to know him. We are thinking of you and your family, and sending you much love

Jo MacAlpine

Deepest condolences to Cate and family. Tars was a quietly spoken, lovely gentleman with a cheeky sense of humour, and great smile. Much respect for him, and my thoughts are with you and yours. Take care, Jo

Mike Halliday

Condolences to Cate and family. I will remember Tausie from his time at 5/7 RNZIR. He always endorsed and supported the importance of looking after your soldiers. Provided words of wisdom when needed. A good man.

Carol Abraham

My deepest condolences Cate. I remember Tars as always warm and kind, calm and sensible, a lovely man. It always stood out to me how great a team you two are together. My thoughts are with you and the family today.

Mike Eru

Farewell to a friend I have known since the 80s when we lived-in at Burnham Camp. For a time we were both at 2/1 RNZIR. He was 10 years older. Fit. Tough. Warrior. Battalion through and through. He was also kind and generous. Thoughtful. A reliable sounding board. A wonderful human being.

We reconnected a couple of years ago. We had planned to meet at a café in Wellington. On the day it was raining, quite heavy. I was about to walk out of my hotel when Tausie came up to me, shook my hand and said “neither of us is paid to get wet anymore so let’s just stay in this building”. On another occasion we had a quiet beer on a rare sunny Wellington afternoon. I commented that it was like yesterday we had been at Burnham. Tausie looked at me and said “mate, it has been a long time between drinks but the fact that we have caught up again, at our age, it’s just gold, pure gold”.

And it occurs to me. That’s what he was. Gold. Pure gold.

Tausie
Moe mai rā
Kua whetūrangitia koe, e tōku hoa
Haere, haere, haere
Haere atu rā

Tony and Christine Kippax

Dear Cate, the pictures in the slideshow say it all. Tars was first and foremost a family man; his family, Army family … always came first in his heart. We will miss his smile and his calm wise counsel, and we will miss him too, but we will never forget, and he will always bring a smile to my face. Ake ake ake … Onward my brother.

Gabe Penjueli

So sad to learn of our Rotuman Warrior, Tausie’s passing. To Cate, Nerissa, Richelle and whanau, my sincere condolences to you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. Alalum garue fakmur ‘on O’fa ta. “otomis hanisi ma roa’itu la ma ‘aus ‘e av ru te’is.

Roger and Sue Mortlock

We are so sad to lose this special man. From deployments in Angola and Bougainville to everyday staff work, Tars was the epitome of professionalism and dedication. His work and interactions were always done with humour and thoughtfulness. As his illness took it’s toll, he faced this with the same ethos. His love and care for Cate and family was so clear and at the forefront. How we will miss him. As we share the service on livestream, we reflect on our own memories and thank Tars for them. How we will miss him.

Peter and Kate Kelly

Dear Cate, the news that Tarsau had passed away was a real shock to us when we found out. He and you have left an indelible friendship with us both and I recall fondly how you joined me at the reading of the Ode at Pukeahu on my last day of service back in uniform back in 2918. His and your friendship over many years has meant a lot to us both. I am sorry that we can not be with you on this day but do know his memory remains vivid in my mind when I think back to our days together in 2nd1st Bn. Ngā mihi Peter and Kate

Jane Spalding

I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Tausie. While I can’t be there in person my thoughts are very much with you.

Annette Coughlan

Our thoughts go to Cate and family. We (myself and dog Isla) visited “The Major” as we called him at Malvina while he was there. We so much enjoyed visiting both him and Cate. To see the love and dedication from Cate and the family was incredible. He was a lucky man to have such a dedicated wife. I hope that their precious memories will bring them comfort. Take care of each other.

Tania Good

Dearest Cate,
My sincerest condolences to you and the whanau, Tars will be sorely missed his quiet voice and guidance, hos warm smile that brightened the room.
Know that we stand beside your – your Sisters in Arms xx

Stella Beach

E waipuke ana nga kamo i te rirohanga o to koutou nei Papa.
E moe i to moenga roa e te Papa. Kia marire to haere ki tua o paerau. Ki reira taoki atu ra.
Kia koutou ma te whanau pani e noho mokemoke ana mo to koutou nei Papa. Nei ra matau e whakaaronui ana ki a koutou i tenei wa taumaha.
Thinking if you all e te whanau.

Arohanui na Stel, Rich, Coen, Hunni, Casta, Cartel me Cree.