Johan Henning Booyens

JOHAN HENNING BOOYENS

1941 - 2025

It would be hard to find as kind and humble a gentleman as Johan Henning Booyens.  Full of curiosity about people and the world, he entered life in Ventersdorp, Republic of South Africa, June 6, 1941, to parents Barend and Elizabeth (Bettie) Booyens and older brother Barry.  He thrived in a carefree childhood on a small holding in Elandskuil during the war and post-war years where relatives on his mother’s side had parcels of land and hosted weekly gatherings.  In primary school, in one particular year, Johan was Victor Ludorum, “winner of the games.” He completed undergraduate studies in geography, history and anthropology while also competing in swimming and wrestling.  Johan married Ansie Meyer and fathered Margaretha (Retha) and Barend (Jahnes). A move to Potchefstroom in 1973 saw Johan join the Department of Anthropology, read for his Master’s and Doctorate and welcome the birth of his second son, Johan junior.  Seeking new challenges, Booyens took up a senior lecturer position at the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) in 1985. His wife passed away in 1987. Johan met Margie Portway (nee Steel) at UPE where they were both on the academic staff and they were engaged in February 1988 on her birthday. They married July 15, 1988, in Canterbury, England.  Johan became a serious photographer after Margie gave him a Pentax for his 60th birthday. The couple moved to Cape Town in 2003, after Johan had a heart attack and retired early, where Margie took up a senior lecturer position in the department of Social Development at the University of Cape Town. He accompanied her to present academic papers at International social development conferences in Austria, Israel, Hong Kong, Brazil and India, exercising his photographic skills. Because of increasing security and stability issues in South Africa, and encouraged by Jahnes and his wife Dia (who became Canadian citizens in 2002), Johan and Margie emigrated to Canada in February 2016.  Their seacan caught up with them in Medicine Hat two months later. Johan enjoyed membership of the Medicine Hat Photography Society, the South Eastern Alberta Archaeological Society, Grasslands Naturalists Society, and activities of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat, of which Margie is past president.  After a December 2024 diagnosis of metastatic cancer, Johan spent his final days in Medicine Hat’s St. Joseph’s Carmel Hospice, where he received professional, warm, compassionate, and attentive care for which family and friends are most grateful. He leaves to miss his gentle yet strong presence, his wife, Margie, daughter, Retha, granddaughter, Anja and her husband Kobus Meiring and great grandchildren Justin and Anchané; son Jahnes, his wife Dia and grandchildren Dané and Ben; and son Johan and his wife Laura.

A private service will be held on Friday 24 January.

To leave a message of condolence, visit www.gracememorial.com

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent to:

Grasslands Naturalist Society or St Joseph’s Carmel Hospice.

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