John passed away peacefully at Espanola Hospital, on January 6th, 2024, at the age of 96. Pre-deceased by his beloved wife Hilda, grandson Robert, and daughters-in-law Colette and Danielle. Survived by his sons, Hans and Jim (Carole), daughter Eileen (Richard). Grandchildren John (Lindsay), Rick (Melanie), Tim (Amanda), Brianne (Allessandro), Joseph (Catherine), Tyla (Abel). Great grandchildren Alexis, Victoria, Octavian, Isabel, Max, Amiellia, Jaxton, and Jack. Extended family in Austria, Australia and Italy and his many friends will miss him, always ready with a smile, a chocolate, a story, and perhaps a sip of his home-made juniper schnapps. He was the beloved patriarch of our family, and we will all miss him dearly; his humour, his wisdom, his compassion, his love.
John was born in Graz, Austria in 1927. He emigrated to Canada from Austria with his dear wife Hilda in 1951, privileged to become Canadian citizens five years later. Both of them truly felt that this is a land of opportunity that allowed them and their family the best of lives.
He was a soldier in WWII, a hard rock miner, a coal miner, and for INCO in Sudbury he was a smelter worker who worked his way up to Smelter Research and then to the INCO Lab as effluent quality sampler for all the Sudbury Basin mines and plants. He was the creator of the Toxicity Lab, where rainbow trout were used to monitor water quality, and were a showpiece for a number of years. He was always a staunch breadwinner for his family, loved fishing and hunting, piloted his own plane, made a trip around the world with Hilda, spent retirement winters in Florida. His was a good life, well-lived. Arrangements have been entrusted with Ranger’s Cremation and Burial Services Ltd. Online condolences can be posted at www.RangersSudbruy.com.