Obituary of Hans Joseph Hamacher

Hans Joseph Hamacher Hans passed away peacefully at home February 18, 2020 due to complications from his second open heart surgery May 18, 2018 with his wife Tanis and good friends Kurt and Eileen Gross at his side. The past 2 years have not been easy for him, but not once did he complain. He was born in Koln, Germany March 23, 1943. At the age of 14 he would start his chef’s apprenticeship in Munich, upon completion he worked as a chef in Wengen, Switzerland, Oren, Sweden, Guernsey and the Dutch cruise liner Oranje which took him around the world twice. He arrived in Canada 1966; his first job would be in Ocean Falls B.C. then St. Agathe Quebec where he would meet Kurt Gross. Traveling together their next stops would be Calgary, Banff, Sunshine Village, Chateau Lake Louise. In 1967 Hans and Kurt went into business and managed the Castle Mountain Ski Lodge for the winter. In the spring of 1968, they bought a restaurant in Blairmore and Peter Scheidegger would join them. A year later they purchased and rebuilt a restaurant in Kimberley which they named The Gasthaus where they would work together for many years. Hans was very involved in the transformation of Kimberley to be the Bavarian City of the Rockies. After the sale of the business Hans would share his kitchen skills as the Culinary Arts Instructor at the College of the Rockies until his retirement in 2001. Hans and Tanis enjoyed camping, fishing and RVing together, spending weekends at Premier Lake, summers on Kootenay Lake, then rv trips to the Baja of Mexico and across Canada. 2004 would be his first open heart surgery which he would quickly recover from. Together they would enjoy two trips traveling around Europe, but the first stop was Koln as Hans wanted to show Tanis where he was raised. He enjoyed horseback riding, hockey, fishing and skiing. One of his favorite pastimes were playing, refereeing and watching soccer. He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years Tanis, daughter Bridget (Steve) grandchildren Ethan and Olivia, son Nigel, stepdaughter Cindy, stepson Chris, Gross and Scheidegger families. Special thanks to Dr. Kate Buddo, Dr. Lori Wik, RN Patty Gray, Dr. Michael Haiduk (retired) and all the amazing staff at the Kimberley Medical Clinic and Home Care Nursing for the wonderful care given to Hans. There will be no service at his request. A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date in the spring. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Kidney Foundation. “If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again” Love you and will miss you every day…. Tanis Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com