Robert Van Ryn

1946 - 2006  (60 years)

• Name	Robert Van Ryn
  Born	1946
  Gender	Male
  Crime	murdered
  Misfortune	murdered
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-233355
  Died	23 Jun 2006	Johannesburg, , Gauteng, South Africa
  Person ID	I233355	Generations
  Last Modified	11 Jun 2024

  
  

  Father	Wolf Van Ryn,   b. 1918,   d. 1998  (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Helen,   b. 1908,   d. 1995  (Age 87 years)
  Family ID	F63913	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  VAN RYN, Robert Murdered, Friday, June 23, 2006 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in his 60th year. A former resident of Kitchener-Waterloo, Robert attended KCI, Conestoga College and the University of Waterloo before moving to South Africa. Robert was predeceased by his mother, Helen and father, Rolf Van Ryn. Lovingly remembered by his sister, Inga Moulton (Howard) of Kitchener; his niece, Christine Dunneman (Kirk), New Hamburg. Sadly missed by his great nephews, Nicky and Tyson Dunneman and many friends in Canada and South Africa. The Record 30 Jun 2006 pg 31 __________ Police investigate former Kitchener resident's death BY LIZ MONTEIRO RECORD STAFF 60-year-old former Kitchener man has been found slain in his South African home. Details are still sketchy and local family members have yet to speak to police in Johannesburg to find out what happened to Robert Van Ryn. His sister Inga Moulton of Kitchener said she was called by a friend of her brother's to say he was found dead in suspicious circumstances. Van Ryn lived in alone in an apartment in the Linden area of Johannesburg. He was found dead on June 23. "I'm extremely upset," said the 62- year-old Kitchener woman, who learned the news two days later. "I know he knew living in South Africa was dangerous but he said it was like the Wild West. He loved it there.' Ambra Dickie, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Canada, said Canadian officials are aware of the case and are in contact with authorities in South Africa. She would not comment further on Van Ryn's death. Moulton said her only sibling moved to Johannesburg nearly 25 years ago. Moulton, Van Ryn and their parents moved to Waterloo Region from the Netherlands when the children were 11 and nine. The pair went to school here and Van Ryn graduated from Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate Institute, attended Conestoga College and graduated from the University of Waterloo. Van Ryn often returned to Kitchener to visit his sister and childhood friends. He was last in Kitchener two years ago and was planning another trip this fall, Moulton said. Moulton said her brother worked for a market research company in Johannesburg and enjoyed his job. She described her brother as a "ray of sunshine" who exuded happiness with everyone he met. "To this day, when I go to a certain restaurant or store that he went to with me, they will ask me when is my brother coming back," she said. "He left such an impact "Our house would light up when he was with us. It sounds ridiculous but it's true," she said. Moulton said she is writing an eulogy which will be read at a memorial service in Johannesburg for her brother this Friday Stan Close, who lives in Johannesburg, described his good friend as a brother to him and a "wonderful, sociable, gregarious person. "He was wonderful at dinner parties," said Close, who knew Van Ryn. for about 20 years. Close said Van Ryn was an avid movie-watcher and watched celebrities closely "His favourite night of the year was the Oscars," he said. Close said Van Ryn loved South Africa because of the climate, its scenery, and open spaces. "He had a good quality of life here and he enjoyed his lifestyle," he said. Close said despite Johannesburg's high crime rate, he doesn't feel unsafe living in South Africa. "We take preventive measures such as locking the car doors and securing our homes. I haven't been faced with a high degree of uncertainty here," he said. Close said police are investigation Van Ryn's death and "we will get to the bottom of this." Van Ryn is survived by his sister, brother-in-law Howard Moulton, and niece Christine Dunneman of New Hamburg. Van Ryn was not married and did not have children. imonteiro therecord.com The Record Mon, Jul 03, 2006 Page 3

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 23 Jun 2006 - Johannesburg, , Gauteng, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth