ORHEIM, John Stanley
( December 24, 2009 )
John passed away shortly before his 88th birthday. He was a delightful person to be around and always brought sunshine wherever he went. He had an incredible zest for learning of all things and loved to share his knowledge with anyone who had time to lend an ear. A self educated man who never stopped learning and understood the mechanics of just about everything in life. He learned by persevering and repetition and read about 2 to 6 hours a day for over 50 years, mainly; Popular Mechanics; National Geographic; Scientific American; and learned everything in those magazines before the next issue. With an unbelievable memory for reciting poetry, a prayer or the amount of inches or square roots in an acre to a hectare. He could build or rebuild just about anything from metal parts to wooden boats and all the electronics from anything he read in magazines or books. He knew all about the earth and the sky's, history, and loved learning to play musical instruments to oil painting and the arts. A true testament to life long learning. If he had gone to university he would have been entered into Genius Book of World Records for the most doctorates. He enjoyed meeting new people and learning new things. A wonderful friend to be with and an even greater caregiver to family and those who were close. He will be missed by his children Elwood, Dexter, Linda (Russell) and granddaughter Sylvia (Aijay); siblings Edolph (Irene), Elene (Edwin); numerous nephews, nieces and inlaws, his close friends Mike, Alf and Dave, all who knew him and his new found friends and staff at Fleetwood Villa. He loved it there and wished he had moved in years ago.
A day of remembrance was held by all his children on December 2. A gathering to join John with the ashes of his wife, Verna, at Viceroy, Sakatchewan will be held later in 2010.
In memory of John, pleae make a donation in your local library, literacy organization or bursary/education grant to encourage education and promote life long learning.