Hans J. Koenig

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Hans Koenig announce his passing at the age of 88 on Sunday morning, May 7, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife Iris and his German parents Otto and "Omi". Hans is survived by his daughter, Jane (Kerry) Alcorn; his three sons, Ken (Terri) and John (Margaret) of Saskatoon, and Hans (Angela) of Black Diamond, Alberta; his grandchildren, Daniel (Lindsie), Lauren, and David; his great-grandchild Levi; and his German family, brother Horst (Charlotte) of Krefeld, and their children Gabriele and Andreas. Hans was born May 12, 1934 in Solingen, Germany. His father Otto died in Italy in 1945 while fighting in World War Two, leaving his wife and his two sons to continue without him in Solingen after the war. Hans eventually emigrated to Canada in 1956 to study Physics at the University of Saskatchewan. He met Iris (née Kenaschuk) in Saskatoon and they married on April 23, 1960. Hans was an excellent athlete, excelling in both gymnastics and track-and-field. He was graced with both the ability and the desire to compete in the Olympics, until an injury side-lined these aspirations. The family soon moved to Churchill, Manitoba, where Hans conducted upper-atmospheric research for the University. The physicist eventually turned to Education and became a dedicated teacher and high school principal throughout his career, teaching in a variety of secondary schools in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Calgary, and High Level, Alberta. Throughout his life, Hans expressed himself creatively as an amateur photographer; and as befits his background in physics, he was also a consummate tinkerer, surrounding himself with circuit boards, electronics, and tools, and often building his own equipment, including an oscilloscope and homemade computers. After retirement, Hans would continue tinkering by establishing his own computer store in downtown Saskatoon, adopting the affectionate moniker of the Macman to his friends and his family. He was widely known to be very generous with his skill at fixing computers, helping many a friend and family member with the horrors of computer crashes. After the birth of his grandchildren, his nickname would shift from Macman to GP, short for Grandpa. Family was important to Hans, and as a final creative gesture he presented separate bound volumes of photographic histories specifically created for each of his children. In the preface to each of these volumes, Hans writes about a handsome young lad in a faraway land who sets out to explore distant and mysterious places, eventually settling in Canada where he meets an enchanting, lovely lass. GP is now on another journey, to another mysterious land, where he can finally reunite with his lass, and we who are left behind will miss his presence very much. The family expresses gratitude to the nurses and staff at Sherbrooke Community Center for their devoted care and for making Hans's final days as comfortable as possible. Services are private, and cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Dignity Memorial of Acadia-McKague's Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.