Johannes was born in Moos at Shangnau, Bern, Switzerland to Christian Reber (1800-1867) and Maria Gerber (1803-1855). At age 22, Johannes married 21 year old Barbara Stucki, also of Shangnau in 1850. Not long after their marriage, he was afflicted with severe arthritis. Within a year or two, his hands and feet became twisted and misshapen. His spine bent forward causing him to be nearly doubled over. A large hump appeared in his upper back which continued to grow until, in his bent condition, it was higher than his head. He could scarcely move about. When he tried to walk he would groan in pain. He and Barbara prayed every night for his relief and cure. They lived in a small house beneath a barn, near the old Reber farmstead. The Reber and Stucki families cared for them, bringing firewood and food as needed. In late September 1859, two Mormon Elders came to the region proclaiming the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When Barbara heard of these men from America, she hurried home to tell Johannes and related to him a dream her mother had while on her death bed 5 years earlier about men from the far West coming to teach the true gospel of Christ. The elders came in December and taught the Stucki and Reber families. Several believed and asked to be baptized. Johannes and Barbara were the first to believe. Due to much opposition and resentment in the area to the Mormons, the baptisms were held at night so as not to be heckled or disturbed. On a cold, clear December night the little group assembled at the Reber home, walked to Johannes and Barbara's cabin where prayers were offered. Then with Johannes' brothers carrying him, they walked the snow covered road to the Emma River where there was a hole deep enough for their purpose. Johannes was baptized and later confirmed. There are numerous family journals testifying that he was cured of his affliction that night. One such testimony comes from Bargara's twelve year old nephew, John S. Stucki, "My parents sent me on an errand to Aunt Barbara's, while I was still quite a ways off, I saw a man come out of the cabin. He was tall and straight, someone I did not know. I stopped, then the man called to me in a familiar voice. 'What's the matter John? Don't you know your uncle Johannes?' He was as straight as any man. My aunt told me that it happened the night he was baptized and blessed.

They left Switzerland April 1861 on a 6 week voyage to the United States. They settled in Santa Clara, Utah