Heinz Rahde

Funeral Service Recording

Our much loved husband, father and Opa was called home to his Heavenly Father on Saturday, June 15 and was once again reunited with his daughter Dolores and son Winfred, as well as other loved ones who preceded him in death. He passed peacefully at home.

His smiling eyes always held a joke or trick behind them, and to his last days, he was making us laugh with his mischievous tricks.

Born in Germany on June 24, 1927, Opa and all his classmates were conscripted into the German army at the age of 15.  At first ridiculed for his lack of drinking or smoking, he later became respected by his fellow young soldiers as they recognized him as someone who made decisions after praying for an answer.  Through many miracles and blessings, his life was spared and he was able to return home to his parents unharmed.

In 1945 he met the love of his life, Gisela Berner.  She was 16, he was 17. As a young man in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he became familiar with the writings of Professor Doctor James E. Talmage.  At that point it became his dream to become “Professor Doctor” Heinz Rahde and he would practice writing his name in that way.

He was called to serve as a missionary immediately after the war to the Westdeutsche (West German) Mission.  He served from 1945 to 1951. After his mission he began his studies at the Institute of Technology in Hannover, Germany.

He and his sweetheart, Gisela Berner, were married in February of 1952 in Stadthagen, Germany.  One month later they left family and possessions as they immigrated to Salt Lake City, Utah to join other Latter-day Saints.  They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in September of that same year.

After they had settled, Opa was able to begin the fulfillment of his life-long dream and enrolled at the University of Utah.  He received his degrees and ultimately became and retired from the U as Professor Doctor Heinz F. Rahde. Every single day of his professional career at the U was a joy for him. He and his partner, Gisela, spent many years traveling with University students to Kiel, Germany for the U’s study abroad program.  They always spoke fondly of those times and the life-long associations they made with students.

Opa always immersed himself in the scriptures, even to the end.  He learned to use his iPad to read since his eyes were so bad and needed very large print.  He pondered and often discussed and shared his thoughts with friends and family. There was no doubt to any of his friends and family of his love for and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Gisela; daughter, Monika (Jeff) Powell; 9 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren.

As we remember him, we will miss his outbursts of “Collin, love you,” naming whoever he may be with at the time.  So now we all say… Opa, love you!

The funeral will be held on Monday, June 24, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing at 10:00 a.m.  There will also be a viewing on Sunday, June 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. These services will be held at their church meetinghouse at 5450 South Holladay Boulevard, Holladay, Utah. Funeral services provided by Cannon Mortuary, 2460 Bengal Boulevard, SLC, Utah.  Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens, Sandy, Utah.