The family of Johannes (Hans) Rhenisch, b. September 5, 1932, in Freiburg, Germany, is sad to announce his passing on July 16, 2017, in Campbell River. Our great storyteller and apple tree expert left us suddenly Sunday evening near the close of his 85th year. For the past decade, Hans helped North Island gardeners with cheerful lectures on organic gardening and detailed farming advice, and proudly supported the Campbell River Food Bank from his garden in Oyster River. Hans trained at the Geisenheim Horticultural Institute in Germany from 1950-1952. In his working life, he helped to modernize the British Columbian fruit growing industry. From 1973 -1976 he led convoys of fruit from the Okanagan to Vancouver, which paved the way for independent fruit sales and organic farming in BC. His circle of horticultural respect extends to Washington and Switzerland and from Australia to Japan. A child of the Second World War, he was forever grateful for Canada’s gift of citizenship, and worked his entire life towards the goals of peace and intensive, self-sufficient farming. During his decade in Campbell River, he was known for his unquenchable enthusiasm, his helpfulness to young farmers, and his sheer joy in living.
He is predeceased by Dorothy, his wife of 58 years, and survived by six brothers and sisters and their families in Europe, Canada and the USA, his sons Roland (Sue) and Harold (Diane), his daughter Marsha, and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as his nephews Mike and Chris Leipe and his nieces Elaine Leipe and Eveline Klein and their families. His resilience at living through great hardship to replace fear with joy and generosity was inspiring.
A service will be held for Hans in the Merville Mennonite Church Hall at 1424 Krueger Road, at 2pm. on Saturday, July 21, 2017. His many friends, young and old, are welcome. In Hans’s memory, donations to the Campbell River Food Bank would be gratefully appreciated.