Edward Reimer

Edward Henry Reimer

1928-2021

“a life of adventure”

Ed was born to a Mennonite family in a farmhouse in SW Ontario. Growing up in Kitchener during the Depression, he learned the value of hard work, contributing to the family income. By Grade 8 he cycled to St. Catharines to work on a farm for the summer.

He attended Queen’s where he studied Chemistry & Physics, as well as being on the swim and water polo teams. He then earned his Teaching Certificate at UofT .

He loved teaching chemistry and physics throughout his life. A beloved teacher, he remained connected to many of his former students. He and Marianne combined adventure and teaching at Kodaikanal International School in India. For 7 years there, they explored India and nearby countries, and he led multiple student field trips, including one to Everest Base Camp. Even after retirement he paired his love of teaching and adventure, leading German tour groups across Canada. He applied his chemistry skills to winemaking in the basement, and some of it was actually pretty good!

His love of music drew him and Marianne to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra where they had a subscription for over 50 years.

He instilled his love for the outdoors in his kids, taking many family canoeing, sailing, hiking and ski trips. Starting in the ‘70s, he and Marianne took the family to the Out Islands of the Bahamas, where they enjoyed snorkeling and exploring deserted islands by boat. In later years the kids reciprocated by taking the whole family back to these islands for Ed & Marianne’s 50th, 55th, and 60th wedding anniversaries.

Ed lived a life of service: at Pioneer Camp, church (Queensway Baptist, First Baptist Brantford, and Lake Joseph Community Church), sponsoring refugees, and on eye mission trips to South America (he learned Spanish in his retirement for the eye missions).

Together with Marianne, he explored the world, travelling to every continent except Antarctica (missing it only by several hundred miles). When he was 70 he cycled the length of Vietnam over 3 weeks, getting his picture in a Saigon newspaper for it. In his 80’s he was still skiing black diamond runs in the Rockies, and cycling the

10 kms into Port Carling every Saturday for his Globe and Mail.

Ed passed away peacefully at the family cottage in Muskoka, where he first met his wife 65 years earlier.

He is mourned and lovingly remembered by his wife Marianne, children David (Marion), Susan (John), Ruth (Denis) and Paul (Samantha), 8 grandchildren, brothers John and Jake, and extended family.

For those who wish, donations may be made to the Kodaikanal International School Center for Environment and Humanity at https://www.kfi-us.org/donate-kfi/

Pending an easing of COVID restrictions, we hope to have a visitation in the fall.