A former rotary club president from Wolverhampton, who was also once chairman of South Staffordshire Narrowboat Company, has died. Hans Boller was aged 78.

Mr Boller, who was born in Switzerland, was president of the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton for a year, during 2008/09.

He died on Monday at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton after suffering a severe stroke.

Mr Boller’s wife Wallean today paid tribute to her husband as a “remarkable man.”

“He was a marvellous man and a very caring father and grandfather,” Mrs Boller added.

Mr Boller was born in Zurich and grew up in the nearby village of Ruschlikon. In 1946 his family moved over to England and they lived in Surrey.

Mr Boller worked as a director for Anglo-Swiss Aluminium Co in the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton from 1960 until taking early retirement in 1992.

In 1960 he married wife Wallean and they moved to Wolverhampton the following year. Mrs Boller said: “He loved being part of rotary. He joined in 2005 and then became president.”

Current club president Mr Kewal Krishan said members would miss Mr Boller. “Hans joined Rotary in 2005 and launched himself into club affairs with energy and conviction,” he said.

“His commitment was such that he became club president in 2008 and played a very active role in the leadership of the club. We will greatly miss his contribution and will remember fondly his great ability to live life with his tongue firmly in his cheek.”

He was also a former chairman of the South Staffordshire Narrowboat Company, organising boat trips for the disabled and elderly. “He loved going on the canal,” Mrs Boller added. Mr

Boller was a keen walker with the Railway Ramblers and was heavily involved in the work of Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre in Newbridge.

He leaves behind two children, Lynne, who lives in London, and Jeremy, who lives in Australia, and eight grandchildren.

He and his wife lived in the house that had been TV chef Nigel Slater’s family home in Wolverhampton.

Mr Boller’s funeral will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Penn at 1pm on April 14.