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Obituaries
Ivan Ernst Baumgartner (OW1951)
11/03/1934 - 30/12/2020
Ivan was born in Melbourne and was the younger of two siblings, having an elder sister, Ilma. His Swiss father, Ernst, came to Australia in 1930, initially for two years, but met Vera while working in Bendigo. They married, moved to Elwood and then Brighton with Ivan attending Gardenvale Primary School and later, Bentleigh West Primary School.
Ivan started at Wesley in Form 1 (Year 7) and greatly enjoyed his years there, perhaps focusing more on sports than academic studies. He loved all sports, representing Wesley in football, cricket and athletics. He went on to play League Football for Geelong when studying at Gordon Institute, but when he moved back to Melbourne to join the family textile business, he requested a transfer to Melbourne Football Club, which coincided with military service at Puckapunyal. Interestingly, in later years he would say cricket was his favourite sport, but his sporting interests were broad.
He finished his football career at St Kilda Football Club, playing 48 league games in total and retiring at the age of 23 years to study and travel overseas. Upon returning to Australia, he married Joan in 1959 and had a son Paul (OW1978) and four daughters, Lindyanne, Michelle, Debra and Kerrie. He later studied economics at Monash University and worked for many years in senior management roles.
Equal to his love of sport was his love of travel and the outdoors. He spent 20 years living in Northern Queensland and travelled extensively around Australia and overseas. He moved back to Melbourne in his late seventies to be closer to family, enjoying the arrival of grandchildren as he had his children. He continued to play tennis, table tennis, swim, paddle board and bike ride into his eighties.
Ivan enjoyed a party, a glass of sparkling and a good red. He loved music and was a great dancer. Ivan is survived by his first wife, five children and nine grandchildren.
Contributed by Paul Baumgartner (OW1978)