Hans was a gentle and quiet man whose actions in life spoke loudly to his intelligence, courage, determination, and bottomless love for his family. Hans lived a full life and died with grace and courage when lymphoma made life unlivable.
His life began in Nieder-Weisel, Germany on September 3, 1941, and ended in Toronto, Canada on October 23, 2013. At age 25 Hans moved across the Atlantic, where he met his wife and partner Rita, and with her started and operated a successful business as a “Spediteur” (Logistics). Hans adopted the Canadian spirit as a lover of the Canadian wilderness and a downhill skier, a passion he shared with his family.
He was a much loved husband, father, and friend. He will be deeply missed by his wife Rita of 39 years, his daughter Tanya, son-in-law Alan Melamud, in-laws Lucy, Ruvim and David, family in Germany, and many friends in Canada and Germany.
We thank Dr. Matthew Cheung, Dr. Steven Shumak and Dr. Hany Guirguis and the exceptional team at Sunnybrook. We also thank Dr. William (Roy) Fox, Dr. Martin Simonik and Dr. Barry Cutler and the Dorothy Ley Hospice team.
A celebration of Hans’ life will be held at the Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Road in Etobicoke, on Sunday, November 3, 2pm.
If desired, memorials in lieu of flowers in Hans’ name may be made to the Terry Fox Foundation, the Odette Cancer Centre – SunnybrookHospital or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Nisreen Atout
I’d like to send my deepest condolences to Rita and Tanya. His life continues through your memories. I pray you find ease during this difficult time. Love Nisreen Atout
Barb and Gary Faulkner
Dear Rita, Tanya and Alan,
Hold tight to memories for comfort, lean on your friends for strength, and always remember how much you are loved.
Love,
Barb and Gary
James Heath
What a great man! I’ll always remember Cedar Highlands Ski Club and visiting your cottage! Thoughts and prayers are with Rita and Tanya now! Love James, Julie, Emma and Abbey!!
Forrest and Liz Heath
Dear Rita, Tanya and family,
We have so many great memories of Hans. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Love Forrest and Liz
Lillian Libralato
Our family is very sad about the loss of our dear friend. The best loved and nicest person we could have as a neighbour. Our love goes to Rita and Tanya and Al. Take care because that is what Hans would want. Love to all Lillian & Family
Reinhard and Edeltraud Kegel
To Rita , daughter Tanya and family members,
We would like to express our deepest condolence wishes on the passing of your husband and father. We fondly remember Hans from our early years at K&N. He always was such a dedicated person and wonderful team player. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. May Hans rest in peace!
Kindly: Reinhard and Edeltraud Kegel
June Williams & Family
Dear Rita, Tanya and family,
So sad to hear of Hans’ passing. We have many happy memories of a good neighbour and a kind man. Thinking of all of you. Warm thoughts and sympathy are with you.
Love June, Janice, Susan and family
Jeff & Susan Williams & Family
Dear Rita, Tanya & Family,
When we think of Hans, we see him sitting in his Muskoka chair, wearing his white hat, enjoying the lake after a day of cottage chores… and that’s how we’ll always remember him. We won’t ever forget all the fun visits we had with Hans and all of you at the cottage. WIth sympathy and hugs,
Jeff, Susan, Wesley and Josh
Mario Osti
Dear Rita and family
We will miss Hans’ quiet demeanour and subtle sense of humour. He was a great neighbour, always pleasant, helpful and friendly.
Please accept our condolences and our thoughts are with you at this sad and difficult time.
Mario & Monica
Evangeline
Dear Rita and Tanya
Through the Georgian Peaks Club notice I learned of your loss of Hans and I wish to express my deepest condolences to you in this very difficult time.
May you find peace in the days ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Evangeline
George & Pat Sinclair
Pat and I extend our sincerest sympathies to and your Family Rita on the occasion of Hans passing recently…our thoughts and condolences are with you during your time of sadness.
George & Pat Sinclair
John Clarkson
Dear Rita, Tanya and family
I was so deeply saddened by the news of Hans passing. My heart felt condolences to you and your family. I have many happy memories of Hans at work and at play, especially on the water skiis. May Hans rest in Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you
John Clarkson
Jen Ryan and Family
Dear Rita and Tanya, I am thinking about you…so many great memories!! Love you lots! Jen, Corey, Isaac and Oliver.
Matt Graham
Dear Mrs.Hauck, Tanya and extended family,
Hard to forget the kind hospitality of the Hauck clan and many rich conversations with a kind and pensive Mr. Hauck. I remember my last time skiing was a road-trip between UofT midterms with Mr. Hauck and usual gang to the Peaks. Before heading home, we would eat timbits while Mr. Hauck’s coffee to cooled in windshield snow. Every trip was the same, every trip was great.
May many warm thoughts, traditions and memories endure.
~Matt Graham
Christina and Ken Graham
We are very saddened to hear the news about Hans. Although we knew each other mainly through our children, we admired your family and your devotion to Tanya and the many times you involved her circle of friends in many activities. An entrepreneur like Hans will be greatly missed. We send our love Tanya and Rita.
Dieter Stadler
Dear Mrs. Hauck,
I was extremely saddened to learn of your husband’s passing and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time.
Christa und Joachim ARNDT
Dear Rita and family,
So sad to hear of Hans passing.
We would like to express our deepest condolences
We worked with you and Hans at K&N and met you both again at the last KN get together.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time
Christa and Joachim Arndt
Karl & Barbara Mahler
Dear Mrs. Rita and Family.
We share your sorrows and pain in the unexpected loss of our dear
Hans-Ludwig.
Although we knew him for a few years only through Lillian’s annual gourmet dinners with friends, we felt as if we had known you both for many years.
Knowing, what you are going through and are faced with, having experienced the departure of a very young much loved wife and husband, we wish you much strength and patience while expressing our sincerest condolence.
Your
Karl & Barbara Mahler
Ingrid und Juan Schober-Bartoli
Es tut uns so leid und wir beide sind so traurig und druecken Euch drei ganz ganz fest. Barcelona ist weit, aber wir sind ganz ganz nah bei Euch ..Er wird uns sehr fehlen, beim Kaffee mit Kuchen, an der Cottage mit der Werkzeugkiste, beim Motorbootfahren, Fischen und Grillen, beim Skifahren u.v.m. Er wird uns sehr sehr fehlen !tagen bin ich bei Dir, auch ich (wir) moechten uns verabschieden. Seid stark und an die Zukunft denken , gerade jetzt !
Bussis/Besos/abrazos fuertes, Ingrid&Juan
Laura and Daniel Libralato~McNamara
Dearest Rita and Tanya ~ Hans was the greatest example of what it truly means to be a gentle….man, and a man of great distinction. He lived life with such grace, conviction and fortitude. The image of Hans either slaloming around South Bay, kayaking in the morning sun or relaxing in his Muskoka chair on the edge of the dock (perhaps contemplating his life experiences and journeys) following the rituals of his day at the cottage …. a hot cup of coffee or a ‘cocktail beverage of choice’ will be forever etched in our memories. We will look to those fond and delightful images to find comfort, strength and hope for our heavy hearts.
With much love ~ Laura, Daniel and Lorena
Rick Morrow
Rita, I’ll always remember Hans with his short skis and you with your long skis, his face smiling with delight as you both reacquainted yourselves with friends in the SnowHost program as you trekked west each season. Hans will be missed, but I hope you’ll continue to head back to one of (both) your favourite spots!
Sincerely, Rick Morrow
Charlie and Marilyn Grant
We only met Hans in later years when he came with Rita to our mountains to ski. What fun he had on those short skiis. After, we would gather for good food and drink, and comeaaderie. We will all miss his gentle ways.
Kim Neuendorff
Dear Rita and Tanya – I was so saddened to hear that Hans had passed away. I will always have the memories of him both from my childhood and then later as an adult when I called on him for work. He always made me feel relaxed and at ease.
May you have him always close in your heart. With fond memories and sincere condolences – Kim Neuendorff
Maxine Gallagher
My Dear Rita,
I am so sad to hear of your loss and ours. Your were both such an inspiration of love and kindness. I will always remember the warm smiles and hearty embraces as you returned to our majestic mountains. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Tanya and my arms reach across this beautiful country you have called home for 30 some years to embrace you with the same love and kindness.
Sylvia Loughnan and Waltraut Meija
Dear Rita and family,
We are thinking of you all at this sad time and sending you our deepest sympathy.
He lives on in our warm memories of a beautiful soul.
Please know our thoughts are with you.
With all our love,
Sylvia Loughnan and Waltraut Meija. Xxxx
Margorie Grime
Hi Tanya and Rita
So sorry to hear of Hans passing. A difficult time for you. There were many good times at Cedar Highlands…skiing – one of your family’s passions. Cherish the memories. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you.
Margorie and Bruce Grime
Tom&Connie Neuendorff
Dear Rita and Tanya
Please accept our deep condolances on the passing of your husband and father.
Last time I saw Hans was at the Peaks on his really short boards I couldn’t help but wonder how he did that – it looked scary to me.
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Tom&Connie
Familie Krombach
Liebe Rita, liebe Tanya, lieber Alan
Heidrun hat uns in den letzten Tagen und Wochen immer mit den neuesten Meldungen von euch auf dem Laufenden gehalten und uns eure Emails weiter geleitet.
Somit waren wir in Gedanken immer bei euch und haben versucht euch aus der Ferne Kraft und Trost zu spenden.
Es fehlen uns ein wenig die richtigen Worte und wir können nur erahnen, wie schwer diese Tage für euch sein müssen.
In den letzten Jahren hattet ihr schon so viel Stärke, Ausdauer und Hartnäckigkeit bewiesen, was uns immer ein wenig Hoffnung bewahren lies….
Wir wünschen von ganzem Herzen, dass ihr in der Zeit der Trauer zusammen sein und euch gegenseitig Mut machen könnt.
Wir werden euch weiterhin in unsere Gedanken und Gebete einschließen und versuchen trotz der großen Entfernung Anteil zu nehmen.
Den 3. November werden wir uns alle in Winterbach treffen und gemeinsam verbringen. Nach alter ‘Krombachscher’ Tradition wollen wir auf Hans und euch anstoßen, an euch denken und der ein oder anderen Anekdote lauschen…
Papa hat ein tolles altes Fotoalbum mit schwarzweiß Bildern. Das werden wir in die Mitte des Tischs legen und an all jene denken, die darin vorkommen. die wir lieb hatten. die wir lieb haben. die wir immer lieb haben werden. die wir nie vergessen werden. ohne die wir nicht wären. ohne die nichts wäre, wie es ist…..
Ihor and Irene Gadacz
Dear Rita And Tanya, We were very saddened by the news of Hans’ untimely death.We still remember the good times we had skiing in Banff and Georgian Peaks and will miss companionship and enthusiasm. Ihor and Irene
Tricia Backhouse
Dear Rita,
I was so very sorry to read of Hans passing I remember
some of the good times we shared when we were in Toronto.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Tricia.
David, Lucy, Ruvim Melamud
Dear Rita and Tanya,
I cannot express how saddened my parents and I are about Hans’ passing. Still seems unreal. The time we knew him was much too short. We are very thankful for having him be a part of our lives, the many pleasant evenings we spent in his company, and of course having him as part of our family. Hans was a sweet, gentle, and courageous man who we will very much miss. Love David, Lucy, Ruvim.
Mary and Earle Ruggles
Dear Rita, Tanya and Alan.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with you at this most difficult and sad time. We will always remember and appreciate our good times with Hans on the ski slopes,at the cottage and dinners together.
Hans was a most genuine and sincere person; he meant so much to so many. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
Love, Mary and Earle
Eberhard Russek
Dear Rita, Tanya & Family
I would like to express my deepest sympathy
Hans has been a very good friend for over 45 years, he was an important cornerstone in my life, I will miss him very much.
Dan McRandall
Sadly just heard of Hans passing. I have very fond memories of dealing with Hans and Rita, mostly in my days at Maersk Line over 25 years ago, and I was always pleased to run into them at functions and such. Hans was indeed a true gentleman and it was a pleasure knowing him. Rita it has been a while and please accept my sincere condolences.
Dan
Dan McDonald
Dear Rita,
I too have just learned from Dan McR. of Hans passing. I will always remember Hans was one of the really good guys. Hans was fortunate to have had those wonderful 39 years with a very, very first class lady.
My deepest condolences Rita.
Sincerely,
Dan
Phil Broadbent
Hans indeed was a true gentleman .Always courteous and helpful whenever contacted both as a business associate and friend. It was a pleasure to have known him and I am sad to think that his retirement years were short. Our sincere condolences to you and Rita, Tanya and the family’
From Phil & Trudy Broadbent (Sauble Beach)
Stephen and Ellen Patkos
Dear Rita, Tanya and Alan,
Hans has been a part of our lives for over 40 years, and we shared many good times as well as sad ones during that period. He was great to work for and with; and, as you know Rita, we created many happy memories during those 18 years at Hauck International. We also remember fondly our dinners together and other functions. He will be missed very much but will continue to live in our memory as a good friend, a fine person whom we respected and loved, a proud husband and father.
Ellen and Stephan
Ingrid Iltgen
Dear Rita!
Many years ago we all worked for the same employer. Hans was always a great colleague , ready to help or explain and also nice to talk to. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your daughter in your loss.
Ingrid Iltgen
Farouk Issa
Dear Rita, Tanya and Alan
I am sad to know that Hans has passed away so soon.
I have known Hans & Rita( The Hauck) professionally and was very grateful for their services, their knowledge and dedication.
God Bless his Soul and my prayers extends for Rita, Tanya and Alan for this difficult transition.
Farouk Issa
Ingrid Harrod
Dear Rita & family,
I am saddened to hear the news about Hans.
Although I met Hans only a few years ago at Lillian’ s yearly dinners. I feel as I have known you both for a long time.
I have lost my husband many years ago and know the real grieving begins, not when family and friends are gathered, but later when everyone has gone back to their own lives.
Please accept my sincerest condolence.
Ingrid Harrod