John Reimers, 79, a resident of the Hillsboro community died Thursday evening, May 10, 2012 at his home following an 11 year battle with cancer (GIST).

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at St Matthew Catholic Church; 475 SE 3rd Ave in Hillsboro.

Family and friends are invited to attend a reception following the Mass held in the parish hall.

John was born on October 18, 1932 in Chehalis, WA. He was the second of eight children born to Pete and Frances J. (Tachunks) Reimers. John and his family made their home in the Washington county area. He attended St Francis Grade School and graduated from Banks High School in 1951.

John enlisted into the US Army and served his country in Germany during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955 as a corporal.

He had met future wife, Bernadette Peters, while playing ball at Bernadette’s uncle’s house in Roy. After John was discharged from the service they began dating and were married on October 5, 1957 at St Francis Catholic Church in Roy, OR. Following their marriage they made their home in Verboort until 1959 when they moved to Hillsboro and moved into their current home in 1968.

John was a carpenter and furniture maker. He had worked for BP Johns, Fashion Craft and Sterling Co. all in Portland. In 1978 he started working with his brother at Reimers Furniture in Hillsboro and had retired from there in 1994.

Among his interests he enjoyed fishing and everything that could possibly revolve around outdoors. He also enjoyed clam digging, crabbing and raising his beef cows. John had also enjoyed making furniture for his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his family; he was a good cook and was known for his clam chowder.

He is preceded in death by his father in 1944, his mother in 1988, and a sister-in-law; Sandy Reimers in 2007.

Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, Bernadette, of the family home, four children and their spouses; Kent Reimers of Gaston, OR, Frank and Karen Reimers of Hillsboro, OR Lynn and Randy Posch Gaston, OR, Jill and Don Welch of Hillsboro, OR, ten grandchildren; Allan, Robert and Scott Reimers (Kent’s children), April Reimers and Stacey (Reimers) Fisher (Frank’s children), Kevin, Sarah & Samantha Posch (Lynn’s children), Jason and Lanea Welch (Jill’s children), Two great grandchildren Ryder Posch and Truth Reimers, seven siblings and their spouses; Pete and Kathy Reimers, Joe and Carol Reimers, Walt and Gretchen Reimers, Doug and Carlene Reimers, Frances and Art Acuff, Ann Froberg, Carolyn and Ben Nussbaumer and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests charitable donations in John's name to OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in support of GIST Cancer Research. Please make checks payable to the OHSU Foundation, 1121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Washington County, 900 SE Oak Street, Suite 202, Hillsboro, OR 97123