Hans R. Ringger

Hans Rudolf Louis Ringger was born in Zürich, Switzerland, on July 11, 1941, to Louis (Ludwig) Emil Ringger and Hilde Lore Sennhauser Ringger. “Hans-Rüdi” often shared experiences from his childhood in Switzerland, leading up to the family’s post-war emigration to the USA in 1948. His stories include attending Sunday School in the Zürich branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, rescuing his brother Peter from being skewered on a wrought iron fence, occasional blackouts during allied bombing raids on munitions factories, visiting his grandparents and great-grandmother (the first member of the family to join the Church), and babysitting (as a 7 year old) his sister Ursula and brothers Peter and Louis in a hotel in Paris during their journey to the USA. He treasured hand-written letters and hand-carved figures from his grandfather his entire life.

He learned English in the USA and was always grateful for the teacher who took the time to teach him one on one, which helped him to thrive and skip a grade. This started a lifelong love of learning. In high school he “flipped burgers” to save up to purchase his first car. He returned to Europe as a young man, serving as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ in the West German mission for two and a half years. His memories of those years included lingering rubble from WW2, public baths, horse meat, and a visit to his great aunts in Böblingen and his grandparents in Zürich.

Hans graduated with a degree in German and French literature at Brigham Young University and married Carolyn Pearce in 1967. Eric was born to them in Pittsburgh, PA, where Hans was working for US Steel. He returned to Utah to earn a Masters degree in mechanical engineering while working at Geneva Steel. The family was joined by Kevin, Kent, and Monica in Utah. Hans started working for Garrett Air Research in Phoenix in 1973, and the family followed him there in 1974. Hans Louis was born to the family in 1976.

Hans was committed to his family, his job designing gears for turbine engines at Garrett, and his service in the Church.  His job evolved into improving the quality of the manufacture of the gears he designed, concluding in retirement from Honeywell (the result of mergers and acquisitions) in 2006. He was a faithful home teacher, serial ward clerk, and long-time worker in the Mesa Temple. He took up cycling and completed multiple distance rides to Tucson. He was an avid gardener and learned to help his plants and fruit trees thrive despite the Arizona heat.  He endured cancer treatment in 1980 and lived the remainder of his life in remission.

Hans married Constance (Connie) Scott in 2000 and they were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona, Temple in 2005.  They took good care of each other until Hans suffered a stroke in early January this year, which culminated in his death on January 30, 2024.

Hans is preceded in death by his infant twin sister Ursula, his father, and his mother.  He is survived by his wife Connie, his second sister Ursula DeLeeuw (Dolan), brother Peter, brother Louis (Cheri), brother-in-law Wayne Scott (Dee), sister-in-law Patricia White (Justin Durand), brother-in-law Joseph Scott (Cindy), brother-in-law Richard Scott (Tina), son Eric (Kirsti), son Kevin (Laurie), son Kent (Krista), daughter Monica Bambrough (Blaine), and son Hans (Elin Isakson), step-son Scott Tiffany (Melinda), step-son Kristopher Tiffany (Susette Fletcher), step-daughter Karisa Budge (Sven), many grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Hans was a one-of-a-kind personality, loved by those who knew him well.  He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel, and he looked forward to a heavenly and eternal reunion with loved ones by virtue of the Lord’s promises in holy scripture and through modern prophets.

His funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in the chapel of the Mesa 60th Ward – his long-time neighborhood congregation – of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 2152 E Adobe St. in Mesa, Arizona. Visitation will take place 90 minutes prior to the funeral. He will be interred at the Mesa Cemetery.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ or to Doctors Without Borders, both of which do remarkable work to bless the lives of our sisters and brothers around the globe.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.