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Obituary of Rainer Raphael Matthias KORN
Rainer Raphael Matthias KORN
It is with deep sorrow that we announce Rainer Korn’s passing June 7, 2023. He leaves behind his wife Cathy, child Jordan, stepsons Ryan and Broden, brothers Peter (Debbie, Nick, Phil) and Juergen (Kathi, Dominic, Hanna), sister Heidi (Harmonie, Zoe, Emmet) and in-laws Brian and Joyce Powell. He was predeceased by his parents, Erika and Hans. Rainer Raphael Matthias was born July 31, 1963 in Freiburg, Germany.
Everyone is dealt a unique hand in life and Rainer’s was a strong one. His aces included: eye-popping strength, amazing coordination, superb endurance and a strong sense of adventure. He tested these aces as he grew up, becoming known for such feats as somersaulting down the stairs and jumping off the school roof into a not-so-soft sand pile. His old-school German upbringing developed a couple of trump cards: problem-solving and quiet resourcefulness. As he inevitably landed himself in compromising predicaments, he was expected to solve his own problems, and so he did.
A natural athlete, Rainer was a key member of many sports teams. Two more trump cards were added to his hand when he trained in decathlon with Willi Krause: commitment and hard work. (It also didn’t hurt to be a little competitive with his brother Juergen.) Rainer won the BC High School Decathlon, and hammer throw in 1981. He placed 3rd in decathlon at the Canadian Junior Nationals in the same year.
Never comfortable with a pencil in his hand, Rainer attended Selkirk College and earned a Forestry Technologist Diploma. He soon realized that tree-planting was far more profitable than technology work. It also earned him winters off. He travelled in those winters ending up in Bella Coola in the 1990’s where he enjoyed back country skiing and took up his ultimate passion of paragliding.
He eventually met his wife, Cathy. The two of them spent more than their fair share of time living in a trailer, planting trees, running tree planting camps and treating tailings pond water at Pine Point. Rainer earned a considerable number of personal carbon credits independently planting approximately 2.7 million trees. Sadly, Rainer and Cathy only recently retired. Rainer enjoyed grooming trails for fat bikers, biking, skiing and paragliding. His game came to an abrupt and unexpected end in a tragic paragliding accident. Looking back, we will always remember his wide smile and think, ‘A very well played life, Rainer. Very well played!’
Please join Rainer’s family for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 9th at the Kikomun Creek Provincial Campground.
www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com
