Gernot Peter Zander

     Gernot Peter Zander, son of Erhard Hugo Zander and Katharina Elisabeth Forster, was born on 4 March 1941 at Swakopmund, Erongo, South West Africa.^{2,12,3,1,7,4,9,8}

Because his father was in the alien detention camp in South Africa since 1940, Gernot grew up on the ranch only with his mother.

When he was six years old, his father was released from the detention camp. He was only to enjoy his father for one year though, because then he had to go to Windhoek for German Higher Private School (Deutsche Höhere Privatschule) boarding school. As with almost all the children in the boarding school, he was only able to return home four times a year.¹³

Gernot was baptized on 21 September 1947 on Monteith. His godparents were Kurt Nöske from Waaihoek Ranch, and Georg Zander from Germany.³

When Gernot was thirteen years old, his father, Erhard Hugo Zander, died on 11 April 1954 on Monteith. His mother, Käthe, was drained by the long sickness of his father, so she and her sister, Blondel, decided to take a vacation in Germany, visiting their parents and other relatives.^14,15,7

After high school Gernot began as an apprentice at Ritter’s Garage. For a short while, he worked at the blacksmith shop, but then moved to the Volkswagen department and became one of the best VW mechanics in town. In the evenings he completed a correspondence mechanics course with a German school. After the management at Ritters changed, Gernot and his boss, Mr. Lindhorst, moved to Eros Diensstasie in Kleinwindhoek, where he worked for several years.

In 1963, Gernot took over part of Monteith Ranch and managed it during weekends while he was still employed in Windhoek. In 1965 he took over the entire ranching operation.¹⁶ He and his wife soon began with weekend ranching. They worked part of Gernot's mother's ranch, purchased cattle, and built up a small herd. After a few years, they took over the entire ranch and moved out to the ranch. They became owners of Monteith Ranch in Okahandja District and purchased half of the neighboring Eengesind Ranch.¹³

Gernot and his wife lived on Monteith until 2015. In the night between 10 and 11 Feb 2015, they were assaulted by four men. It was close to midnight when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was one of the workers on the ranch, they opened the door to find, not a friendly face, but hoodlums carrying a carabiner and a floor lamp, with which they immediately attacked. Gernot fell to the floor under the blows, and was then kicked in the back many times. Then Gernot and his wife were both bound and gagged. His wife was then released to open the gun safe. They took a hunting rifle out and broke it. They kept asking for money and opened all cabinets in their search, taking some jewelry, but finding no cash. Gernot was locked in a bedroom. His wife was taken to the small ranch store they kept for the employees, and she managed to lock them in. She yelled for help, but apparently the employees didn't hear her. The hoodlums managed to escape the room, but thankfully took off. Toward morning, Gernot's wife drove to the neighboring ranch and was able to get help. They were driven to Windhoek by their daughter and Gernot was taken to the hospital. After that incident, they moved to Windhoek and lived at the Susanne Grau Heim, a retirement home.¹¹

Gernot died of kidney disease at 9:15 in the evening on 25 July 2021 at Bismarckstrasse 29, Windhoek, Namibia, at age 80 years, 4 months and 21 days^9,17,8,10, and his ashes were buried on Monteith Ranch.¹⁷