We Remember
REITOR, John
August 12, 1934 — December 31, 2025
There is a specific kind of man, the kind we don’t seem to make anymore, who views a problem not as a crisis, but as something that simply requires a level head and the right tool. John Reitor was that man. He was born in 1934 on a Saskatchewan homestead near Fosston, delivered by his own father (who was a physician), which is about as “DIY” as a life can possibly begin. It set the tone for the next 91 years.
John met Mary in Biggar, SK. He was a conservation officer; she was a nurse from Saskatoon. It was the sort of down-to-earth, sturdy love story that lasts – and it did, for sixty-eight years. They married in Nanaimo, BC in 1957 and eventually found themselves in Lac La Biche, AB, where their son David was born. Most people, when faced with the need for a family home, look at real estate listings. John, being John, simply built a trailer for a cozy home and raised his family in it. He wasn’t being eccentric; he was being sensible. Why buy what you can build better yourself?
That philosophy extended to his soul. He became a Commissioned Minister, a calling he followed with the same quiet dedication he applied to everything else. He wasn’t one for histrionics or hand-wringing. His faith was like his woodworking: solid, well-constructed, and built to stand the test of time. When he spoke about the end, he didn’t use metaphors. He just said, “I know where I am going.” It was a statement of fact, as clear as a blueprint.
That same spirit of service extended into John’s work with Christian Record Services, where he dedicated 33 years to helping provide resources and support for those who were deaf and blind. This work mattered deeply to him, aligning closely with both his faith and his lifelong belief that if someone needed help—and you were able to give it—then you simply did.
In his workshop, John turned wood into legacies. He made hope chests for newlyweds, cradles for newborns, and birdhouses for the backyard, and he had a habit of giving unique Christmas gifts. He was a man who expressed love through joinery and varnish. He also had a streak of mischief, he liked a joke, the kind that put an unexpected smile on your face.
Retirement at 65 usually involves a lot of sitting down, but John didn’t see the point in that. Instead, he gave twenty years to the RCMP as a volunteer, eventually earning a medal and a large appreciation dinner in his honour (He simply loved the work he did with the RCMP). Even in his final days, he wasn’t idle, he was still out there cutting wood, hauling logs to his son David’s place, so the fire wouldn’t go out. He was 91, but the work wasn’t done yet.
John passed away peacefully at Kelowna General Hospital on New Year’s Eve, surrounded by the family he’d built and the people he’d looked after. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Mary; his son David and daughter-in-law Krystyna; grandchildren Aaron, RaeAnn, Jonathan (Jessica); great-grandsons Adam and Jackson, and step great-grandson Kaden, all of whom will miss his kindness.
He always told them, “Don’t worry,” and “Don’t be sad.” It’s a hard request to honour, but given that John usually knew how to fix things, we should probably take his word for it.
He has gone to be with his Lord and to see his late parents, Anthony and Annie (née Kryzanowski) Reitor.
The family wish to express their appreciation to the care staff on the KGH Medical Floor for their high level of care shown to John.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BC Cancer or Kelowna’s Gospel Mission.
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BC Cancer or Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Link: www.bccancer.bc.ca, kelownagospelmission.ca
Condolences
Sorry to hear about John’s passing. When I walk past his house with my dog I think of him and Mary.