Walter Jucker

1927 - 2016  (88 years)

• Name	Walter Jucker
  Born	3 Dec 1927	, Switzerland
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-181147
  Died	25 Jan 2016	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Cause: bladder cancer
  Person ID	I181147	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Florence Hansen
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F52261	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Lifetimes: World traveller Walter Jucker spent a lifetime exploring Walter Jucker's introduction to the Canadian wilderness came from a photograph, one of those quintessential shots of a red canoe on a calm northern lake. Walter was mesmerized and in 1952 he left tiny Switzerland for the expansive spaces of Canada where he could travel on foot or by canoe for days on end, truly a dream come true. It would also be where he would meet his second wife, Florence Hansen. It was 1989 and Florence was trying to gain experience with a hiking club on a trail around Wildwood Like, near St. Mary's..... Turned out Walter had taken some sort of elocution lessons to lessen his accent, and what remained was quite charming. "We were engaged by Christmas," Florence said. The couple married the following spring and spent the next two decades travelling the globe, seeking out the best trails, most pristine camp sites and European cities with the most culture, particularly music. "Walter loved ballet, the opera, the waltzes of Strauss," she said. When they met, she had not yet revealed that she herself was a musician of note. Florence and her sister Andrea were the popular duo The Hansen Sisters, known for playing with celebrities such as Arthur Godfrey, Moxie Whitney and Guy Lombardo...... It was after serving his mandatory military service in Switzerland that Walter decided to immigrate to an English speaking country. He came to Canada initially just to scout the place out.... When he met Florence, he was already divorced and an experienced adventurer. Just a couple of years earlier Walter completed a solo 18-day hike in England, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. With other hikers, he tramped down to the base of the Grand Canyon, camping on the canyon floor for a week while exploring all the trails. He had also hiked on the Appalachian Trail and he was a Bruce Trail end-to-ender, meaning he covered the entire 890-kilometre distance... Lifetimes: World traveller Walter Jucker spent a lifetime exploring. (2016). Therecord.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.therecord.com/living-story/6798428-lifetimes-world-traveller-walter-jucker-spent-a-lifetime-exploring/ - Valarie Hill ___________________ JUCKER, Walter It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of our dear Walter Oskar Jucker, Monday, January 25, 2016, in his 89th year, (December 3, 1927) peacefully, at home, surrounded by his family. He was the cherished and much-loved husband of Florence Jucker (Hansen/Misener) for 25 wonderful years. Loving father of Richard Jucker, London; step-father to Debra Misener-Jones, Parry Sound; Steven Misener, Toronto; Warren Misener, Kitchener; and step-grandfather to Lindsay Jones-Weber (Bill), Kitchener. Predeceased by his parents Oskar and Maria Jucker, brother Ernst Jucker and sister Gertrude Jucker, Zurich, Switzerland; and step-grandson Adam Jones, of Kitchener (2012). Walter emigrated to Canada from Switzerland in 1952, drawn to this beautiful country by a photo of a red canoe on a sparkling blue Canadian lake. He spent several years working for British American Oil in Toronto and Air Liquide in Edmonton, travelling extensively throughout Canada. The twenty years prior to retirement were spent as an auditor for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, based in London. Walter loved the outdoors and was an avid member and former President of the Thames Valley Hiking Club. He walked solo across England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. He back-packed down into the Grand Canyon and spent a week exploring its numerous trails. He hiked on the Appalachian Trail, and completed the entire Bruce Trail. In 1989, he and Florence first met on a hike around Wildwood Lake near St. Marys. Shortly after marrying Florence in 1990, he moved to Kitchener and retired. Following their marriage, they made many trips to Europe and these included hiking in the German, Austrian and Swiss Alps. Together, they walked 600 km along the South West Coastal Path in England, from Minehead on the Bristol Channel to Plymouth as well as, hiking in the Canadian Rockies, Yellowstone Park and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Walter was a member of the Swiss-Canadian Club based in Guelph and a past member of the Hubertus Club in Mannheim. He was a longtime member of Trinity United Church and the Church's Fellowship Club. In 1999, Walter and Florence enthusiastically co-founded the Re-Soles, a seniors' hiking club based out of the Breithaupt Centre in Kitchener which continues to this day. Walter loved opera, operetta, ballet and symphonic music. He and Florence attended many such events here and abroad. Many friends spoke of Walter as a true gentleman, and indeed he was. The family wishes to thank the many kind and caring friends who were so supportive during this difficult time. We are also grateful for the many caring volunteers, doctors (in particular Dr. Lana Tan) and staff of the Hospice Waterloo Region as well as the wonderful CCAC nursing and PSW staff. We could not have made this journey at home without all of you. A CELEBRATION OF LIFE for Walter will take place on Sunday, March 6 at Luther Village, 139 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo, ON. The service will be in the chapel at 1 p.m. followed by visitation and reception in the Great Hall. Rev. Tiina Cote of Trinity United Church will officiate. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hospice of Waterloo Region. Cards available at the venue. ontariocremationservices.com 519-772-1237 Waterloo Region Record 2 Mar 2016

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 3 Dec 1927 - , Switzerland Died - Cause: bladder cancer - 25 Jan 2016 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth