Skip to content

John REIMER

November 29, 2006

On November 29, 2006, just before midnight, John Reimer took a last, quiet breath and passed away. He spent 76 years living a wonderful life, full of adventure, friendship and love. He battled Multiple Sclerosis for several years and then, for the past 3 years, cancer, all without complaint. A year ago, he explained the lack of medical information he shared with his friends by saying “It doesn’t make me feel any better and it only makes them feel worse”. He died far too soon: cancer ended his journey.

John Reimer, who grew up in the Fraser Valley, was a respected professional in his field, a great story teller and listener, an investor and entrepreneur, a sportsman and a sports fan, but most importantly he was a husband, a father and a grandfather. Someone who defined the concept of a “gentleman” and a “man”, he always had a smile on his face. He built many life long friendships as a result of his business travels across Canada and the United States and treated everyone with whom he came in contact with great respect. To him, there were neither servants nor kings, just people. John leaves behind him a world made better by his kindness and generosity.

John is survived by his wife Pat, who stood bravely at his side during his battle with cancer and MS, just as she did during the 53 years they spent together as husband and wife. His oldest son, Tom (along with his wife, Kim and son, Matthew) and his youngest son, Jeff (along his wife, Kathy, their two daughters, Kerriann and Alex) will always love and miss him.

He’s now gone to a peaceful place where he’ll rejoin members of the family who have gone before him. We can all imagine him walking his dogs along the edge of the river, dressed warmly, surely wearing his trusted gum boats and a faded golf hat. It may be a cloudy, misty day, but it doesn’t matter, he’s feeling no pain. He’s watching the ducks and geese fly by, and spots an old cedar log washed up on the shore. The Lions have just won the Grey Cup and you can almost hear him say, “I wonder…?”

John Reimer is gone but certainly never, ever forgotten.

A family service will take place at Oceanview Burial Park in Burnaby, B.C. and a celebration of John’s life will take place in the New Year.

As expressions of sympathy, contributions to The Canadian Cancer Society (www.cancer.ca), The MS Society (www.mssociety.ca) or the Heart and Stroke Foundation hyperlink “http://www.heartandstroke.ca” www.heartandstroke.ca would be appreciated by the family.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.