An open funeral will be held for Mike the Juggler– an iconic and “always smiling” Wellington character who died in the Loafers Lodge fire.
Mike Wahrlich, 67, was one of the five confirmed victims killed in the fire last week.
A tribute page by the Wilson Funeral Home said Wahrlich was a well-known Wellington street entertainer who brought joy to the lives of many people.
“He will be sadly missed by all the people who were lifted by his happy, laughing personality and were provided entertainment as they passed by him.”
Details of the funeral have been made publicly available for those who wish to attend.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, 375 Adelaide Rd, Newtown on Friday at 11am, followed by a private cremation.
The service will also be live-streamed.
The funeral home asked that any messages to the family be left in Wahrlich’s online tribute book.
Wahrlich was known to many as ‘Mike the Juggler’, as he was often found juggling on the street with a big smile on his face. Throughout the years, he was stationed on Cuba St, Manners Mall and most recently down the south end of Lambton Quay.
On Tuesday morning, someone had laid flowers outside his usual spot on Lambton Quay outside the Westpac Bank, and another person had left three oranges arranged to look like juggling balls in tribute to Wahrlich.
After news of his death, social media has come alight with tributes to the Wellington icon, with hundreds of people mourning his loss.
Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul posted her condolences to his family last night, saying: “Moe mai rā Mike, thank you for bringing joy into our lives. My sincerest condolences to his loving whānau.”
Jessica Hammond, the Ōhāriu candidate for the Opportunities Party, posted on Twitter that she remembered Wahrlich fondly from her teenage years.
“I remember when I was about 14, we asked Mike to sign a birthday card for one of our mates and he gladly agreed. That was 30 years ago, and even then it felt like he had been part of Wellington forever. Oof. This is so very sad.”
Callers through to Nick Mills on Wellington Morning’s said they would miss Wahrlich greatly.
Tessa said he had been a large presence in her life when she would take her children to town from Paraparaumu.
“The first thing we would do is go and see him,” she said.
“He spoke with his eyes- he would come quite close and the kids were small, and he would come right up to them, and they just absolutely loved him.”
“When we heard the news yesterday I just couldn’t believe it - he was a part of our life... it’s a big loss, especially [for] my boy, he really loved him.”
People describe Wahrlich being one of their first memories of the city, and described his death as an “extremely sad loss for the Wellington community”.
“May he forever be in peace as so many of us will always remember him – he impacted so many of us with his love, entertainment and chats. Fly high and may everyone, family and friends, find comfort in how special and iconic you were to Wellington,” one person wrote.
‘What a needless loss. Rest in peace smiley guy,” said another.
Warlich was discharged from hospital late in 2022 after a serious assault in Loafers Lodge. The attack was bad enough that he remained in hospital for several weeks.
A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm in relation to the attack. He was remanded in custody.