Obituary: Michael Czerwonka

Michael Czerwonka, the Kai Iwi man who collapsed and died while competing at the Masters Games last Thursday, was an outstanding industrial electrician who had just gained his inpector's ticket.
New Zealand only has a select group of electricians with the skills and knowledge Mr Czerwonka possessed.
Married with three children, Mr Czerwonka suffered a fatal heart attack while tackling the ridge running at the games. He was 51. Only a few days earlier he had competed in the stair running on Durie Hill.
Of Polish extraction, Mr Czerwonka was a treasured employee of Don Gilbertson Electricians in Wanganui Mr Gilbertson said yesterday he had not only lost a "first-class" employee, but a close friend, "a member of the family".
"You could put Michael in charge of anything, and he would do a first-class job. He was very good with the clients. He is a big loss - not only to his family, but to me and the industry."
Mr Czerwonka worked for Mr Gilbertson for just over six years.
Mr Gilbertson remembers meeting his friend for the first time.
"He heard I was looking for an electrician. He wasn't employed at the time. He had just built himself a house and had been helping out here and there."
One look at his qualifications and experience convinced Mr Gilbertson to snap up Mr Czerwonka's skills.
Mr Czerwonka was so good at his job he could have worked just about anywhere in New Zealand or the world, Mr Gilbertson said.
When not plying his trade, Mr Czerwonka kept himself busy on his lifestyle block at Kai Iwi. He was also a keen touch rugby player and enjoyed the odd game of volleyball.
He is survived by his German-born wife, Petra, and children Lisa, Tim and Peter. Mrs Czerwonka is being comforted by family members, who have flown in from Germany and Australia.
Her husband's funeral will be held at 1.30pm on Thursday at Dempsey and Forrest Chapel.