Jun 20, 1936 - Nov 8, 2017
Hans George Gabriel Kratz was born Elchanan Rosenbaum in the British Mandate of Palestine in 1936. In 1948, his family left on route to Canada..
On arrival in Canada the family soon moved to Fort Vermilion in Northern Alberta. Hans was temporarily separated from the family and placed in residential school in Chicoutimi Quebec. While still in high school Hans met Juliana, who had travelled to Fort Vermilion to assist in nursing in the hospital his parents, both medical doctors, were running. Juliana and Hans became friends and married in 1954. In quick succession they had three children.
Moving south to Sherwood Park, Alberta, Hans started his career as an educator, innovator and inventor with the Alberta education system and pioneered audiovisual education for the County of Strathcona. His skills brought him to the attention of Steve Jobs.
In 1993 Hans and Juliana retired to Qualicum Beach BC where they became involved in numerous volunteer organisations.
Hans was deeply passionate about equality, fairness and the environment. He became very involved in work of the Council of Canadians, Kairos, Project Watershed, PovNet and Living Wage, as well as many other organizations.
For more information on his life go to http://faerydance.ca/Hans.html
Hans found great comfort and peace through his involvement with the Quakers. Hans Kratz passed peacefully at The Gardens with Juliana, his loving wife of 62 years, at his side. He is survived by Juliana, his children, Martin(Christina), Peter and Karin, his grandchildren, Stephanie (Brent), Robert (Susan), Alexandra and Marcus and great grandchildren, Gabriella, Robert and Michael; and his brother, Rick(Mary) and family.
A celebration of Hans' life will be held on December 2 at The Gardens in Qualicum Beach from 1:30 - 3:30 P.M.
Due to other bookings of this facility, guests are respectfully asked to honour this time limit. The generosity of the Administrative team at The Gardens is much appreciated.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre at Box 364, Errington, BC, V0R1V0.