Jiri K.Nor P.Eng

11-06-1939 to 06-26-26

Passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of June 26th 2026 at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital at the age of 87. Husband to Jana for 58 years. Amazing father of Peter, Nicola (Rockliffe) and Nancy. Loving Děda of George, Tristan, Hannah, Gunnar, Maike, Freya and River.

Jiri was born November 6th, 1939 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. From an early age, he had an avid and slightly dangerous interest in chemistry and engineering. Building model airplanes in his third floor alcove as well as once filling the house with noxious fumes after a failed chemistry experiment. He was a successful inventor and entrepreneur that founded and ran multiple businesses in geophysics, information technology, high speed battery charging and fuel cell technologies.

He met Jana in the tennis club in Prague where they both grew up. They emigrated to Canada together after escaping the invading Russians in 1968, and they married soon after in Ottawa, Ontario. In the early 1970s they settled in Oakville where they grew their family.

Jiri was an avid paddler and outdoor adventurer, for years an active member of the Ontario Voyageurs Kayak Club and later in life completing a large portion of the Camino de Santiago, just months after a full knee replacement.

Jiri was an enthusiastic and long-time member of the Ontario Racquet Club, where beginning in the 1980’s spent a great deal of time playing tennis and socializing with friends on and off the courts.

An avid reader in English, Czech and Spanish, his family will miss his historical insights and quotes of great leaders. With his love of exploring and his interest in always learning; together with Jana spent a joyful and active retirement travelling to many countries as well as taking a deep and intensive dive into learning to speak Spanish.

Many thanks go out to the Palliative Care Team at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital who Jiri cracked jokes with until his last days.

As Jiri always encouraged adventure, learning new things and gaining experiences, a memorial service and celebration of life is planned for November 2026 when all his family will be home from their travels.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Whitewater Ontario (Fix The Gull River Rehab Project) are welcomed.