Obituary of Lorne Hamilton Ritenburg

1924 - 2014 Lorne passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 23, 2014 in Regina surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his wife Isabel; parents, John and Isabella Ritenburg; brother Ralph; and sisters, Winona Weymark and Verna Ritenburg. Lorne is survived by sons, David (Shirley), Jack (Jeannette) and Jim (Jacquie); grandchildren, Christine (Jason), Andrew (Lindsay), Katherine (Patrick), Matthew, Laura (Paul), Emily and Christie; great-grandchildren, Jimmy, Cedric, Daniel, Maggie, Isabel, Thomas and Samson; sisters–in-law, Helen Walker and Vivian Ritenburg; nephews and nieces, including a special niece Maureen Walker. Lorne was born in Neville, SK in December 1924, a child of the Great Depression; the depression years left an indelible mark on his character and approach to life. He was proud of his prairie roots and proud to instill in his sons the principles of prairie values. After his father’s death, he moved with his mother, to Regina to complete high school. Lorne convocated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1950 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He spent a few years honing his skills and in 1959 started one of the first Consulting Electrical Engineering firms in the province, under the name of L. H. Ritenburg and Associates Ltd. During nearly forty years of practice he was responsible for many projects throughout Western Canada. Lorne was particularly proud of designs at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina and the Regina General, Pasqua and Plains Hospitals in Regina. Lorne was recognized with Provincial and International awards for design work. His firm continues today as Ritenburg & Associates Ltd. Lorne met his future wife and life-long companion, Isabel Walker, in high school. They were married for 64 years and were still best friends. Lorne and Isabel were founding members of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in 1953 and remained active and involved throughout their lives; he was instrumental in the electrical design of this landmark Regina church. Lorne will be remembered for his integrity, commitment to family and friends, sense of humour and joking nature. Family was most important to Lorne; he was blessed to be a member of an extended family that was more than just a group of relatives, they were good friends. A Celebration of Lorne’s Life will be held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 3233 Argyle Road, Regina, SK on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11:00 am with Rev. Christopher Snook officiating. Private interment will follow. Flowers are most gratefully declined. Friends, so wishing, may make a donation in Lorne’s memory, to St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 3233 Argyle Road, Regina, SK, S4S 2B5.