His daughter Rosemary Furniss unveiled a painting of him with 100 bubbles for 100 years, which was gifted by family friend Thomas Brown, of Thomas Brown Art Gallery in Arrowtown.<\/p>\n
Deadman has two other children, John Deadman and Patricia Kittson, and one 24-year-old grandson, Remy Furniss.<\/p>\n
Deadman said he was born in Raetihi, north of Whanganui, but spent most of his life in Rotorua, moving there in 1936.<\/p>\n
He became a golf caddie when he was 10, mowed lawns, and \u201csaved all my money\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the war, I became self-employed.\u201d<\/p>\n
He started a wrought iron business when he was about 35 and bought and developed industrial land.<\/p>\n
He is still a commercial landlord today.<\/p>\n
Ivan Deadman celebrated his 100th birthday with his family on Wednesday. Photo \/ Megan Wilson<\/p>\n
Deadman said he was married to Erin Deadman, whom he met on a golf course, for 50 years before she died in 2004.<\/p>\n
Furniss said her father was with his \u201csecond love\u201d, Joan Whatarau, for 20 years before she died last year.<\/p>\n
Deadman said he and Erin travelled \u201cextensively\u201d together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t go to Africa or India, but we went just about everywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
His favourite countries were Switzerland, China and Japan.<\/p>\n
Deadman was made a life member of a walking group he had been part of for more than 27 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had over 100 members, walked all around Rotorua, we\u2019d go out twice a week doing 12km or 14km.\u201d<\/p>\n
He had also been an avid hunter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hunted rabbits when I was a kid and then got onto the pigs and the deer and the ducks and the pheasants.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201ckeen fisherman\u201d also said he had a \u201c14-pound trout hanging on my wall\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he was the North Island golf champion in 1954 – one of his greatest achievements.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayed golf all my life. Got on scratch. Nine holes-in-one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deadman attributed his longevity to \u201cplenty of exercise\u201d, hunting, golfing, and tramping. <\/p>\n
His advice to younger people was \u201cbe industrious, work hard, save your money\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a good life.\u201d<\/p>\n