A young father has died of influenza on what should have been his first Father's Day with his baby son.

Ben Ihlow, 30, was an otherwise healthy and devoted dad when he was struck down by the flu last week.

Samantha Ihlow with her 10-month-old son Andrew and husband Ben Ihlow who died after contracting influenza.

Within days Mr Ihlow, from Bacchus Marsh west of Melbourne, was dead, a victim of the most widespread flu epidemic in 15 years.

His uncle Neil Adams said the family was devastated by the loss of the "bubbly and bright man" who was in prime of his life.