28 November, 1929 - 5 August, 2022
Richard Hans Regier, or Sekuru (as he was lovingly known in our family), passed over on August 5, 2022 into the loving arms of his Father God and his beloved wife, Ruth, or Ambuya. Sekuru was 92 years old.
(“Sekuru,” in the Zimbabwe language of Shona, means “Grandfather” and “Ambuya” in Shona means “Grandmother.”)
Sekuru is survived by his children Raymond, Renee, and Rob, and, of course, the most favored grandchild, nephew, and son, Stefan. He is also survived by his younger sister, Wally. Sekuru has now joined his parents and older brother who preceded him. We know that Sekuru has also been welcomed by the love of his life, Ruth, our mom, or Ambuya. Ambuya recently passed over herself on June 30, 2022.
Sekuru grew up as middle child on a farm in Saskatchewan and lived through the Great Depression. There he learned about faith, working hard, and the value of education. Sekuru also loved hockey and he earned the nick name “The Blond Bomber!” Sekuru completed his academics and training at Briercrest Bible School and, of course, played hockey there.
Sekuru’s life was a life of service and his service was in building. He was a builder of many things and many lives. While doing this, Sekuru was brilliant, but always quiet and humble. In 1955, Sekuru took a ship to Africa and began his service in the country of Zimbabwe in the Zambezi Valley. A place that is legendary for its extremely hot temperatures, snakes, scorpions, mosquitoes, and subsequently malaria. Sekuru struggled with malaria at least 15 times. Yet also there, in that harsh landscape, he found the love of his life, our mother, Ambuya.
Sekuru and Ambuya were married in 1957. Together, as an ultimate team, they set about building - building faith, relationships, building lives, and building actual physical structures. Sekuru was passionate about education and helped build over 200 schools so that hundreds even thousands of children could have an education and opportunities for better lives.
Sekuru and Ambuya lived in quite a few different places in Zimbabwe where Sekuru continued to build buildings and relationships. Even their home was a place where deep and positive relationships were built - relationships that crossed racial barriers and respected cultural values. At the bookstore in Harare, that they steered and guided, relationships were born and often heart-to-heart conversations grew over cups of coffee.
Thinking they had completed their service in Zimbabwe, Sekuru and Ambuya started serving again in the 1980s in Canada. They were asked to return to Zimbabwe by their Zimbabwian friends to continue to build. Because the relationships they built were strong and Sekuru and Ambuya were steadfast and devoted, they returned and built again. When Sekuru and Ambuya did finally retire to Canada, they set about building more relationships and serving in their church.
Later, Sekuru became ill and Ambuya became his loving caretaker until she could not do so anymore. Today, Sekuru is no longer suffering and we are grateful.
Our family is also grateful to the staff at Extendicare in Scarborough, Ontario for caring for Sekuru, our father, and grandfather in compassionate and sensitive ways.
Visitation will be on Saturday September 3, 2022 from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. The service will begin at 11:30 am. Graveside interment is for family members.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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