Obituary Mr Rudy Loenen

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 30

Obituary Mr Rudy Loenen

Mr Rudy Loenen, a prominent figure in the restaurant business for the last 20 years, died in Christchurch last Friday. He was aged 46.

Mr Loenen owned and managed several Christchurch restaurants, and one in Takaka, and helped set up the catering company which serviced the Town Hall when it opened in 1972. He built a reputation around his jocularity, which was often directed in good humour at his customers. Mr Loenen was born in Holland and learned the cuisine trade while working on ships sailing between his native country and the United States.

He emigrated to New Zealand, and in 1967 began as a waiter at the Milando Restaurant in Christchurch. Within six months, the owner, Mr

John Visser, promoted him to a managerial position.

The association with Mr Visser continued for seven years. He managed the Grenadier restaurant from 1970 to 1972, assisted with the Town Hall venture, and two years later helped Mr Visser with the catering at Queen Elizabeth II Park for the Commonwealth Games. From there Mr Loenen branched out on his own, buying Berends and renaming it the Galleon, which soon gained a reputation as one of the finest French restaurants in the city.

He also had a stint in the food trade in Takaka and held a managerial position at the George Hotel.

Mr Loenen is survived by his wife and three daughters.