Harold Janetzki and his wife Clarice enjoyed cake and company at a morning tea at Henty Men's Shed as well as a party at aged care facility Myoora Homestead, where they live, afternoon visitors and a planned family tea.

Born November 26, 1921, in Henty, Mr Janetzki was an only son with four sisters, one of whom died young.

His father Edward had come from Nhill, travelling on an old wooden horse and cart with three of his brothers.

In 1920 Edward bought Henty farm Rainbow, near his brother Tom's property, with the siblings both marrying into the Schultz family, also originally from Nhill.

"Dad's always joked that his dad and his uncles chased the Schultz girls from Nhill to Henty," Mr Janetzki's son John said.

"Now we've got a Janetzki Lane and a Schultz Lane, they've named roads after the two families."

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Mr Janetzki worked on the family wheat and sheep farm, active in the Lutheran church and playing centre half forward for football clubs including Mittagong and Henty.

A fine tennis player, he once defeated national representative Rex Hartwig in a game of singles.

"Dad's claim to fame has always been that he beat a Davis Cup player, but he didn't actually state the fact that he was about 10 years older than Rex, and Rex was about 12," his son John laughed.

In the late 1960s, Mr Janetzki sought a break from the farm, went up to Bundaberg, Queensland, and worked in a sugar cane factory.

One Sunday at church he met his future wife, who was originally from Victoria.

They married and returned to a farming life in Henty, raising sons Mark and John.

John and his wife Di, who now work Rainbow, have three sons, Jack, Harry and Tom, coincidentally also the names of Mr Janetzki's brothers.

"He's still very faithful with the Lord and encourages his family to follow, that's always been a real treasure to us in the family," John said.

Mr Janetzki has always supported Henty Men's Shed, becoming member number 14 when the group - now 100-strong - formed.

"He was always a real family man, just a real gentle nature and he would never say anything bad about anyone," his son said.

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