Jana Group and Auscivil founder John Castle died on Saturday.
A well known Warragul businessman, known as John, Jack or JC - a tribute to his life was captured in the recently released book "The Wateva Project" celebrating 60 years in business.
John wanted the book to record his adventures in life shared with wife Gloria.
More than 100 contributors participated in piecing together the life, family, business and leisure pursuits of John and Gloria and their children Craig, Melissa and Trish.
The 60-year history began in 1962 when at midday on November 28, Jack finished his form four Asian history exam at Warragul High School. "Unable to withstand any more chalk and blackboard stuff, at the front concrete memorial gate posts, he shredded the text book and went home for lunch," the book states.

The book quotes John: "that afternoon, I rode my bike to a farm 10 kilometres from home and carted hay, earning one pound and eight shillings an hour. I got 15 out of 100 for that exam. I did not return to school. I was in business."

John continued in agricultural contracting for many years using equipment owned by his father Allan, including his much-loved Farmall tractor.
John met Gloria in 1967 through Victorian Young Farmers and they married in 1968. John operated a fencing business until 1971 when they leased a farm on Old Sale Rd, Brandy Creek and began dairy farming.
As the dairy industry slumped in the late 1970s John and Gloria purchased a traxcavator to supplement their income, building farm dams and laneways and anything that required moving dirt. They continued to survive the ups and downs of the dairy industry until 1979 when they sold their dairy herd and moved onto a 37 acre property in Warragul.
Over the following years John and Gloria took on many businesses including a garden supplies operation, large scale civil construction projects, residential and commercial building and land and property developments.
Tributes in the book describe John as tenacious, hard-working and self-made. As founders of the Jana Group, John and Gloria always called Warragul home and they were proud to help shape some of the town's leading residential estates and commercial developments.
Their latest residential development was Warragul Crownlea. When they turned the first sod in July this year, they used John's father Allan Castle's shovel which he brought out from Kent, England in 1912.
John, 76, is survived by his wife Gloria, their children Craig, Melissa, Trish and families including seven grandchildren.
In a statement released by the Castle family on behalf of the Jana Group and Auscivil, the family said "John loved his family and worked tirelessly for 60 years and has left an incredible legacy."
"John valued all those who worked directly and indirectly for the group and we are grateful to all of you that have had an impact on John, Gloria, their family and business."
A funeral for John will be held at John and Gloria's property, 20 Murdie Rd, Warragul on Friday at 3pm. It will be an outdoor service.
A burial service will be held at the Warragul Cemetery, Victoria St, on Saturday at 10.30am.