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“Death is not a foe, but an inevitable adventure.”
On May 21, 2026, after a long illness, Hans embarked on his ultimate adventure.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Hans’ life on Saturday, July 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Trophy Room at Club Heidelberg, 569 Lake Street, St. Catharines. Let us celebrate as he would have wanted—casually, with good stories, fond memories, and plenty of laughter. A private interment will take place at St. John’s Cemetery in Port Dalhousie.
Hans is survived by his son, Gregory, and daughter-in-law, Kelly; proudest Opa to Grandson, Gordie; his long-time partner, Susan MacAskill; and many family members, friends, and colleagues in both Austria and Canada.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Westhills Care Centre in St. Catharines for the kindness, support, and compassionate care they provided during Hans’ stay.
Hans entered the world on Krampusnacht (Krampus Night), December 5, 1940, in the village of Steinakirchen am Forst, Lower Austria. One of four siblings, he grew up above his father’s tailor shop, where his lifelong curiosity and independence first began to take shape.
As a teenager, Hans and his friends piled into his baby-blue FIAT in search of adventure, paddling rivers, trekking trails, climbing mountains, and skiing throughout Austria and Northern Italy. Those journeys often produced stories that grew taller with each retelling—such as the time he and two friends climbed an ice wall with only one pair of crampons between them after discovering they had left the others in the car, yet deciding to continue anyway.
In 1960, carrying little more than determination and seventy dollars in his pocket, Hans set out on his next great adventure: Canada. After returning to Austria to complete his compulsory military service, he came back in 1966 and made Canada his permanent home.
Hans possessed a remarkable work ethic and an endless fascination with how things worked. He began his career with Olivetti in Austria before transferring to Olivetti Canada as a service technician, repairing mechanical typewriters and office equipment that eventually evolved into modern computer systems. Following the closure of Olivetti’s Canadian operations in the 1990s, he joined Hohner Corporation in Beamsville, where he worked until reluctantly retiring at the age of 70.
When he wasn’t working, Hans was rarely idle. He could often be found in his workshop rebuilding a car engine, in the driveway constructing a sailboat, in the backyard rebuilding a deck, or on the roof tackling yet another home improvement project. As he liked to say with tongue firmly in cheek, “The joys of home ownership.”
Hans’ curiosity and love of adventure continued throughout his life, taking him across the United States, including Alaska, throughout the Caribbean, Iceland, Western Canada, all across Ontario, and, of course, back to Austria—his first home.
We do not say goodbye. We simply say, “Until next time.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in Hans’ memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, Diabetes Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Tranquility Burial & Cremation Services (Niagara) Inc. Condolences can be shared at tranquilitycremation.com
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Our goal is providing a low cost, all inclusive alternative to traditional funeral homes for those who value a respectful and modern approach to funeral care. Whether your choice is direct cremation, burial or a personalized memorial service to celebrate a life, we will strive to make your wishes a reality.