August 15, 1933 - January 20, 2025
The world’s most selfless man!
Hans was born in Bremen, Germany to Meta and Bernhard Deiterding, surviving chaos and famine after WWII.
He was an exchange student at 16 years old in Michigan USA, where he was well liked, and learned to speak English.
He immigrated to Canada as a naïve 19-year-old as a farm laborer. After his year of work, he got a job in Owen Sound at National Table, where he learned how to finish furniture, which became his life’s work.
Hans met Muriel (Utley) at a dance in Sauble Beach in 1958, where he wouldn’t take NO! as an answer when he asked her to dance. They married on June 27th, 1959, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage. They lived in North York when he took a job with Eaton’s. Hans and Muriel had 3 children, Nancy, Diane and Ralph. He liked to muddle around the house, and any piece of furniture found at the side of the road he would refinish and make beautiful again.
The family moved to Stratford in 1974. Their family expanded to: Nancy (Randy) Witzel, Diane (Steve) Bice, Ralph (Sherrie Grise) Deiterding, 9 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. 2024 was a terrible year of health issues. Hans got over one problem, and another would begin. He was strong until the end, and did not want to go, but his body had other ideas.
Hans was predeceased by his parents, as well as his in-laws, Jack (2013) and Dorothy (2024) Nighswander, of Calgary Alberta. He leaves behind 2 brothers in Germany, Klaus (Christa) Deiterding, and Lothar (Anita) Deiterding, as well as various nieces and nephews in Germany, Norway, Alberta, and Texas, USA.
Visitation and a time to visit with Hans’ family will be held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Saturday, January 25, from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Heart and Stoke Foundation, or Stratford General Hospital would be appreciated and may be made through the funeral home. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
