Judy Rayner

Born near Koenigsberg, East Prussia on January 21, 1937 to Carl and Else Doerr. She spent her early childhood in the villages of Albrechtsdorf and Polenshof where Carl was a Pastor. In January of 1945, just days after her 8th birthday, Else with Judy and older sister Liesel in tow left their home to escape the advancing Russian Army. Taking only items that they could carry, they began what she called a “10 month journey of misery”. Judy often spoke about putting her favorite doll in a small bag to take along and her admiration for her mother.

Somewhere in the former province of Pomerania, the Russian Army overtook them, but fate smiled, a lady who owned a large Manor befriended Else (Judy’s mother) and took them in. The ordeal proved almost fatal to Else as she came down with Typhoid fever but thankfully recovered. With the war now over and Germany divided, their plans to continue west were dashed when Russian soldiers caught them trying to cross the border illegally.

The next 9 months were spent in a detention camp with hundreds of other civilian refugees in the same position. Eating soup and a piece of bread once a day and sleeping on the straw strewn floor of a large sawmill. Somehow through all of this the trio managed to stay together and were finally allowed to board a train in November 1945.

Finally reaching their destination outside of Massenbach, Germany, they were reunited with Judy’s father (Carl) and brother (Ted). It was there that Judy spent her remaining childhood years living with various relatives. At 15, in search of a better life, Judy, her mother and sister followed Ted and his new bride Ruth to Edmonton Alberta, Canada.

Judy found a job as a babysitter, learned English from the lady of the house and went to night school. She also worked other jobs to help with financial needs. She had many good memories of these days and treasured her great friendship with Ruth who became like a sister.

In 1955 she met her future husband Toby at Ted’s house. The couple fell in love and were married the same year. Drawn in by the mountains of Jasper, AB it became their new home. In that time Judy worked in the administration office for Northern Utilities and Toby as a machinist and welder at various places. Judy learned to ski and they enjoyed the outdoors skiing, hiking and fishing. Obtaining a License of Occupation from Parks Canada, Toby and Judy began exploring the idea of developing Marmot Basin as a ski area. Together they built a small cabin where she served homemade pies and other treats and Toby used a borrowed Bombardier snowmobile to transport skiers into the area and serve as ski patrol. After installing Marmot Basin’s first lift (a homemade rope tow) in 1963 and even with financial backers they lost a bid to further develop Marmot Basin. They left Jasper and after brief stints in Kimberly, British Columbia and Dillon, Montana they settled in Banff, Alberta.

At Judy’s suggestion, they opened a small gift store with a Simpson Sears catalog counter. The couple worked very hard for the next 18 years and The Spinning Wheel became one of Banff’s largest gift stores. During this time, they also began a family and Curt and Alex were born. Judy juggled her time between the store and raising a family.

In 1980, a change in the business environment forced Judy and Toby to look for other opportunities and they purchased the Jasper Tramway as partners. Judy held down the fort in Banff, managing The Spinning Wheel, managing the books for both businesses and raising two boys, while Toby commuted to Jasper and operated the Tramway.

Judy loved to ski and was often at one of the ski areas near Banff with family or with friends. She was an eager volunteer at the kid’s ski races and also during the 1988 Calgary Olympics. In summer, when time permitted she hiked, was often out for a run along Vermillion Lakes road or at one of her good friend Jeffery’s aerobics class. A lover of music, she learned the piano in her early forties and loved to sing. Rarely singing in public she often sang along to her favorite songs at home.

As comfortable in the water as on the snow, Judy loved to swim and water ski, once swimming 2 km of open water from the tip of Blind Bay to Copper Island in Shuswap Lake during one of the several family camping trips to the area.

Judy and Toby divorced in 1985. She completed both the 1986 Honolulu and 1987 Vancouver Marathons placing 3rd in her age group in Vancouver. She also traveled to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Judy left Banff in 1990 for the warmer climate in Kelowna and became a real estate agent. She was active in the Kelowna Liedertafel Choir for many years both as a performer and serving as treasurer. The choir traveled far and wide for singing engagements including to the U.S. Judy was passionate about needle point creating some beautiful pieces but suffered terribly from rheumatoid arthritis which slowed most of her physical activities. During this time she also battled breast cancer but thankfully after surgery and radiation treatments was declared cancer free.

In 1994 she found true love and remarried in 1995 to Ewald Rinke. Having both knees and an elbow replaced, Judy regained mobility and was able to keep relatively active. She often joined Ewald at a local air rifle club and became female club champion in 2009 and 2010. Together they spent many years traveling the world, boating on Okanagan Lake, camping and fishing on some of the small lakes in the Kelowna area. Judy and Ewald loved to socialize and had many friends. While she always said she was too young to become a grandmother, nature had other plans. She loved family gatherings and visits with her sons, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Judy is survived by her sons Curt (Jill) and Alex (Moreah), grandchildren Saje and Zohwea.

Judy will be dearly missed, we take heart in having known her, loved her and to have shared in her incredible life. She taught us to persevere, to find the good in life and enjoy simple pleasures. A bird’s song, a long walk and the sun on our face.

Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299