Obituaries : Hank Reisner; Senior Volunteer

Hank Reisner, a 20-year Ojai resident and volunteer for several senior organizations in Ojai, died Friday at his home after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 86.

A native of Los Angeles, Reisner served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He met his wife, Ann, during the war. Afterward, he went to work for Union Oil Co. as a station manager. He also owned a parking lot in Burbank.

In 1975, he and his wife retired to Ojai.

“We love the area and we wanted to live in a place where we felt part of it,” Ann Reisner said.

Hank Reisner was a volunteer for several community organizations, including the Little House, which provides services to senior citizens. After retiring, he discovered a talent for acting and was a member of the Seniors on Stage and the Art Center.

An avid storyteller, Reisner would entertain children and adults with tales that he would make up. During Christmas, he would dress as Santa and greet youngsters around stores in Ojai.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Judy Ann Reisner Ellison of Inglewood; son Henry David Reisner of Concord, Mass.; a sister, Florence Helen Kohn of Santa Monica and seven grandchildren.

At his request, there will not be a service but a celebration at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai at 10 a.m. Saturday.

“He did not want people to mourn for him,” his wife said. “He wanted them to rejoice in the fact that he had such a good life.”