Hans Derrer
A shining ray of humanity slipped behind the horizon late in the day on Tuesday September 7, 2021. Hans Derrer was a man who filled the world with kindness, even in the most mundane, everyday interactions. As a devoted husband for 70 years, Dad would spontaneously bring our mother flowers, chocolates and jewellery. As far as he was concerned, there was no need for an anniversary: every day with his beloved wife was worth celebrating. He often said his favourite sound was the laughter and giddy chatter of his wife and four girls at the kitchen table. As kids, Dad was always ready to play along with our silly antics. At Expo’67, or anywhere for that matter, we never got lost in a crowd—Dad’s signature whistle always rounded us up in a flash.
With Dad, something new was always in the works. His home is filled with original stained glass creations. He was an accomplished photographer with the eye and the patience to wait until the light was “just right.” He developed his own film, built lenses using discarded parts he picked up at work, and captured images to rival the finest nature magazines.
“It’s a surprise,” was the standard answer whenever we asked what he was working on. That way, nobody would be any wiser if it didn’t work out. One thing’s for sure, Dad had a flair for the unexpected—the furnace man did a double-take of the martian painted on the kitchen wall, and passersby would ask to see the masterpieces he created on the garage walls to clean his roller brushes during renovations.
Dad had a real sweet tooth. There were always cookies and candies, sometimes soft drinks stashed away in the trunk of his car. And our cherished “squirrel” was always happy to share.
Our father was a man who refused to hand out propaganda flyers as a young German soldier during the Second World War, and made sure a captured soldier received medical care. There are so many stories of heart and decency. What a blessing this beautiful man was.
“Hans,” “J.F.,” “Dad,” “Duddi-Pa,” “Opa,” will be sorely missed by his wife Elsa; daughters Jutta, Claudia, Martina and Carola; sons-in-law Jean-Luc and Yvan; grand-children Sabrina, Christian and Melanie; great-grand-children Lilia and Ellie; and extended family and friends. We love you forever.
The cremation took place on Monday, September 13, 2021; any further arrangements are yet to be determined.
*Some information has been deliberately left out as a preventive security measure for social media.
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Tuesday September 7th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Hans Derrer Tuesday September 7th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Belleville, Province: Ontario