Son David Maxwell and grandson Oliver delivered the eulogy, as hundreds reflected on a pioneer of both real estate and rugby.

For David, he said goodbye to a man he described as an affectionate husband to his mother, a loving father to both he and younger sister Kerri and a steadying influence on him in his formative years.

"Dad was a guiding light and he always had a wise word at the appropriate time," he said.

Oliver said his grandfather was larger than life, full of lessons and an example he hoped to emulate.

"He had a contagious zest for life," Oliver said.

"He let his emotions out and showed people what he really thought of them. Whether Pa liked you or didn't like you, you probably knew where you stood," he said.

Col Maxwell was heavily involved with the Whites football club and played 220 first grade games and served as club captain for five years.

He achieved life membership in 1980 and was the first grade coach through one of the club's most successful periods when in 1981, 1982 and 1983 they performed a three-peat and were reigning premiers of the ACT competition.

At the funeral, David spoke of his father's sense of humour, in particular his no-nonsense coaching style.

"He incorporated a great sense of humour into his style and his half-time speeches were legendary as many a schoolboy, and senior player, blushed when dad was using the full range of English language."

He went on to talk about the "interesting side effects" of being the son of a passionate sportsman.

"It wasn't until I moved away from home that I realised that a normal family holiday in Manly would be spent at the beach, rather than at Manly Oval watching rugby for seven days."

As well as a rugby great, Col Maxwell was an active member of the community.

He was a long-term member of the Queanbeyan Masonic Lodge, served on the Queanbeyan Salvation Army advisory board, was president of the Queanbeyan Racing Club and was an active member of the Queanbeyan Business Chamber.

For more than two decades, he was also the main arena announcer for the Queanbeyan Show.

All the while, Col and his wife Aileen ran their own real estate companies, in particular, Maxwell & Co., up until their retirement in 2007.

Colin Bruce Maxwell entered the world on February 1, 1937, and was the second of five children to Douglas and May Maxwell.

He spent his early years in the surrounds of his family's home at Bulls Head in Namadgi National Park, where his father was stationed as a ranger.

His time there ended when both he and older brother Graham received scholarships to board at the Canberra Boys Grammar and it was there that Col immersed himself in not only rugby, but cricket, the violin and school musicals.

Leaving school at the age of 14, Col met Aileen a couple of years later. They married in 1959 and moved to Queanbeyan where the newlyweds built their own home.

They had eldest son David in 1961, followed by a daughter, Kerri, in 1963.

At the time, Col was an auctioneer at Woodgers and Calthorpe but decided to branch out with Jim Woodger and the pair took on board their own real estate agency, leading to the formation of Maxwell & Co.

But it was rugby that was Col's true life passion. David said while some believed Col's greatest contribution to rugby was as a player, others thought it was his dedication to coaching and administration.

He said his father's true strength as a coach lay in his ability to communicate and get inside the heads of his players, taking time to understand the individual.

"He was very direct, very straight to the point and he didn't at all gild the lily in any way. He used the language to demonstrate where he thought you were lacking in your performance," David said.

"One particular speech I remember well was when he said, 'At what point do you want me to bring the scones, jam and cream out? Because you're not really here playing rugby'."

For more than 28 years, Col coached a variety of teams, including the Whites, the St. Edmunds First XV, and the renowned senior ACT squad that took down the Welsh national team in 1978.

He coached the St Eddies 1989 Waratah Shield-winning team dubbed the "God Squad", referenced by Oliver on Monday.

"I'm sure you are enjoying coaching the real God Squad and looking over your family," Oliver eulogised.

"You are to be congratulated on a life very well lived. We are so proud of you.

"I hope you enjoy your well-earned rest, and that heaven has good scotch and enough pistachio nuts to keep you happy."