Farewell to The Von

St Peter can expect a golf lesson from "The Von" when he welcomes him through the Pearly Gates.

As golf coach Charlie Earp said at Norman Von Nida's funeral service in Brisbane, he's given everyone else a lesson - even if they didn't ask for it.

Earp said the little man affectionately known as "The Von" had asked him some time ago to put a golf club and two golf balls on his coffin, a wish carried out.

When Earp inquired why he wanted two golf balls, The Von replied "in case I lose one on the way up".

Family members, golfing friends and associates from the racing fraternity turned out in force to say their goodbye to a man who was widely regarded as a trail-blazer for his sport.

Earp, Jack Newton, five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, one of Von Nida's closest friends and former Commonwealth and Olympic swimmer Susie O'Neill were among mourners at his funeral service at St Agatha's Catholic Church.

Von Nida's estranged son, Denis, who was bitterly critical of his father the day after he died, was also there.

Cyril Andrews, 90, was an unfamiliar face in the gathering.

But few knew Von Nida better, their friendship beginning at Eagle Junction State High in the early 1930s.

They played rugby league together, caddied together and remained members of "Old Boys" club until Von Nida died in his sleep at the weekend aged 93.

Andrews recalled a day when they were young caddies at Royal Queensland when Von Nida was banished "up the road" by Caddie Master Mr Len King for hitting balls at the clubhouse.

"A fella came running up to us and said Mr King wanted to see Norman," said Andrews with reflective smile.

"He wasn't happy and he told Norman he was `up the road' (an expression when young caddies were disqualified)."

"Norman was just a fair dinkum bloke. He was hot-headed, but a real man."

Thomson, who won five British Opens, said he may not have ventured overseas had The Von not already blazed the trail.

"Norman was irascible. Nothing stood in his way but he always had time to pass on his knowledge," Thomson said.

Earp told an amusing story about Von Nida, who had the physique of a jockey and loved horse racing as much as golf.

The Von had taken legendary Sydney jockey George Moore's money in a game of golf at La Perouse, shooting 62.

Moore tossed the winnings at The Von and said he had to come back to his house and play a game of tennis for the same stake.

The Von had no shoes or racquet so Moore generously lent him his wife Iris's shoes and her tennis racquet.

Much to Moore's amazement, The Von, who'd been a rep for sporting goods company Spalding, cleaned him up on the tennis court.

"Moore tossed the money at him again and said `you thieving little man, you never told me you played tennis' to which The Von replied: "you never asked".

Fittingly Von Nida's wake was held in the clubhouse overlooking Royal Queensland where he caddied and played his early golf.