Obituary of Johanna Ruhr

Johanna Ruhr (née Klein) November 6th, 1921 - January 21, 2016. With sadness we announce Johanna’s passing at the age of 94. She died peacefully in her sleep. Johanna was predeceased by her father, Michael Klein and mother, Elizabeth (née Rieger), her brother Joe, her sister, Mary Herman (Paul) and Raoul Morand, a close friend of the family. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Carol Kavanagh (Robert); her granddaughter, Kristin Enns-Kavanagh (Nathan) of Saskatoon; her grandson, Robert C. Kavanagh (Andrea) and their children, Jack and Bert, of Longview AB; sisters Ella Klein of Regina SK and Agnes Huston (Richard) of Port Moody BC; sister-in-law, Ida Klein of Regina; and many nieces and nephews. She grew up on a family farm near Silton, SK. During WW II she worked as a lab technician at The Grey Nun’s Hospital in Regina. Johanna married Matt Ruhr in 1945 and the family moved from Regina to Calgary in 1955 where they lived for nine years. There, Johanna continued her role as wife, and mother to Carol. She created a beautiful home, was a gracious hostess and was always warm and welcoming. The family loved to vacation at Banff and Radium Hot Springs. Johanna enjoyed playing bridge and loved to dance. In 1964, She and Carol moved back to Regina where Johanna worked at the Medical Art’s Clinic for 29 years as a nursing assistant, principally with Dr. Murray Fraser. She retired in 1993 at the age of 72. She always went the extra mile in her work, was greatly appreciated by the doctors for whom she worked and beloved by many patients. Upon retirement she bought a townhouse and thoroughly enjoyed fixing it up. She travelled to many places in the U.S.A. and Canada. At age 80, after a mild stroke, she moved to Saskatoon to be near Carol and her family. At first she lived in an independent retirement home, then with her daughter and son-in-law for four years, one year in a care home, and then into independent living again at Trinity Manor where she spent her last year. The family would like to thank Dr. Ron Kozakavich for his amazing care of her, and the wonderful staff, nuns, priests and lay residents at Trinity Manor who so generously helped her out in many ways