Cocksy’s farewell a final project

There was one last project to finish when celebrity handyman Cocksy’s time was up – his coffin.

The surfboard/builder hybrid coffin was built by his friends but it still needed one more nail.

True to the Kiwi icon’s sense of humour, he requested his wife Dana Coote had to put that ‘last nail’ into his coffin.

It was a fitting end to John Cocks’ send-off at the Tairua Rugby Club which celebrated his zest for life and a wicked sense of humour that struck a chord with the New Zealand TV audience.

Cocksy died on February 6, aged 52, after a long battle with cancer and several hundred people turned up to send him off yesterday.

Best known for his appearance on television shows April’s Angels, My House my Castle and winning Celebrity Treasure Island he was also involved in charity work and enjoyed his time touring New Zealand as part of the Variety Bash.

It was revealed his personality was no camera trick. It was dyed in the wool.

‘‘He taught us to not take life too seriously,’’ his wife Dana Coote said.

‘‘And to take a walk on the wild side and live life on the edge.’’

Coote recalled how Cocksy handled his diagnosis with cancer and how he tried to not let it get at him.

‘‘We lived for life and did all of the things he had planned to do,’’ she said. ‘‘I don’t think the doctors had seen someone react the way he did. He would be dressed up in a Santa hat dancing through the hospital singing how he was off to radiology.’’

Cocksy was a strong supporter of KidsCan and would assist the charity wherever he could.

While most saw the cheeky prankster on their television screens there was a tender side that played out off screen.

He wrote poetry and could even sew a ball gown – something he did for his daughter one night before a ball when finances were tough.

His daughter Ella Cocks said she ‘‘hit the jackpot’’ having Cocksy as her dad.

‘‘You can’t imagine how good of a dad he was,’’ she said. ‘‘I hope I make him proud.’’

Jason Gunn became friends with Cocksy while travelling on the Variety Bash and recorded a tribute played at his funeral.

‘‘He was such a character and a great story teller,’’ he said. ‘‘He had this ability to make something out of nothing with his incredible hands.’’

Cocksy, knowing his time was limited, had a hand in planning his own funeral and wanted to go out on his terms.

A rugby theme was chosen given his love of the game and Waikato Draught and Lion Red flowed amongst the gathered crowds.

MC Simon Dallow said Cocksy regarded his funeral as ‘‘his last shout’’ and for people to ‘‘come as you are’’.

‘‘Because he certainly has,’’ Dallow said. ‘‘His final wish was for you all to drink Tairua dry and catch a wave.’’

Simon Dallow, left, leads mourners at the funeral for TV builder, John Cocksy’ Cocks at Tairua. John Cocks’ coffin was knocked up by mates and delivered to the service at the Tairua Rugby Clubrooms in style.

PHOTOS: MARK TAYLOR/STUFF John Cocks endeared himself to television audiences with his onscreen persona but was also remembered as a beloved dad, mate and keen surfer.