A Tauranga man known as ‘Mr Mints' for his fundraising efforts in selling Lions Club mints has passed away on his 80th birthday.

Gael Ansell was surrounded by family and friends when he died from failing health on Monday.

Mr Mints Gael Ansell passed away on his 80th birthday.

He will be farewelled at a service at Tauranga Park this Saturday

Gael received the moniker, Mr Mints, after taking over the organisation of selling mints on behalf of Lions New Zealand in 2000.

Bethlehem Te Puna Lions president Doug Morris says the mints now raise an estimated $5 million for Lions clubs around the country.

'He's been involved in mints since he was at Lions in Wellington, where he spent a lot of his working life, where his family originated.

'Another thing he is known for is leading the Puppy Guide Dog appeal and has also been responsible for running an annual brunch for women, which brings in around $2000.”

Doug describes Gael as one of life's ‘true gentlemen', who loved to have fun.

'He has been a member of the Lions for almost all of his working life. I think at least 35 years.

'What I found was that he was a quiet mannered man, but lived life to the full. Each day he seemed to head off on an adventure.”

One of those adventures was taking Bethlehem-Te Puna Lions members to the Cloud in Auckland for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

'He drove up with three of us other Lions for a day out and he was 77-years-old at that stage.

'But he led the charge. He, or his wife Judy, would also make sure there was freshly cooked scones and a thermos of coffee and tea for whereever we decided to stop.

'We'd always open up the boot, stand around and have a yarn, while we had fresh scones and hot coffee or tea.” In the last 18 months when Gael's health started to deteriorate, Doug says he was at most of the Lions working bees, 'once again opening up the boot of his car and, through his wife, supplying morning tea”.

'He always organised trips for us like a bus load of us went to the Mystery Creek Fieldays, a couple of years ago and he also took a bus load to do a walking tour in the Karangahake Gorge.

'Right before you walk over the bridge there was a table and he would set up the red and white table cloth and lay out the tea and scones for morning tea.”

Doug says Gael was good fun to be around, while remaining focused and professional. He was well-respected among Lions clubs.

Gael moved to the Tauranga area in the 1990s and owned a bakery on the main road in Bethlehem.

He also had a high standing in the Lions and was awarded the Lions International Life Membership; International President Certificate; Lloyd Morgan Lions Club Charitable Trust Life Member and Melvin Jones Fellow Award.

He had four children and eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Gael's family asks for donations to Waipuna Hospice which can be left at the service on Saturday at 11am.

The service will be followed by a private cremation.