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Passed away peacefully at Health Sciences North Hospital in Sudbury ON at the age of 78 after a lengthy illness. Son of Alois and Mathilde Rank, predeceased in Erlenbach, Germany and a baby sister Johanna. Survived by his son Nikola, son Jean Pierre, sister Christa (spouse David Floyd) and wife Gaëtane. The family expresses its deep gratitude to the caring staff at Health Sciences North Hospital, Community Care Access Centre and Bayshore. Werner had numerous interests, loved nature, canoeing, camping and gardening. He cared for and loved his family, extended family, workplace family and appreciated his neighbours. There will be no visitation and a mass will be held at a later date. If you wish, please express your condolences through mass offerings or donations to the Alzheimer Society. Werner went to the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg France in 1971, as a National Research Council post-doctoral fellow where he undertook studies in the field of steroid chemistry. In 1973, Werner worked as Research Associate at the National Research Council in Ottawa. In 1976, he opted for an academic career at Laurentian University, continuing his research interests in synthetic organic chemistry. During his years at Laurentian University, he supervised students through their 4th year B.Sc. honours thesis research and M.Sc. students in their graduate research. Some of his graduate students hold academic positions at Canadian and American universities, some, senior research positions in major pharmaceutical companies, others in health services as M.D.s, pharmacists and optometrists. Werner published major papers in international journals, was involved in contract research which led to technical reports. He spent two sabbaticals at the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. in Basel, Switzerland as a member of one of their discovery teams. Werner was head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for nine years and Vice-Dean for three years while carrying a normal teaching load. He served on many committees at the departmental, divisional and university-wide level. In his service regarding francophone matters, he contributed as a member of the Conseil de l’enseignement français (1977-84, 1987-91) and as Vice-doyen, Affaires francophones, Sciences et Génie (1993-95). Werner also served as Laurentian senator for eight years, two of them in the Executive. Werner retired at the age of 66 in 2004 as professor emeritus. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Cooperative Funeral Home, Sudbury. www.cooperativefuneralhome.ca

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Provided by: Cooperative Funeral Home



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