Rudolf "Rudy" Frans Nielsen

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rudolf “Rudy” Frans Nielsen, who left us peacefully at the age of 84, holding the hand of his beloved wife, Joanne. He is survived by his wife; his two sons; five grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and many dear friends, some of whom he cherished for over 60 years.

Rudy arrived in Canada shortly after World War II from Holland with his mother at the age of nine. They settled in northern British Columbia, where his mother worked at a remote fishing and hunting lodge. It was during these formative years that Rudy began honing his outdoor skills. He was a proud alumnus of St. George’s School, where he was awarded Sportsman of the Year for track and field in 1960, breaking three records and earning nine trophies.

Rudy’s career began in the forestry sector, where he flew by helicopter into remote areas, living in the bush for months as he ran property boundaries and appraised and valuated timber throughout the province. He later transitioned to real estate, becoming a realtor in 1964 and owning several real estate offices in northern BC. He obtained his Diploma in Urban Land Economics in Appraising from UBC in 1972. This year marks his 53rd year with the Real Estate Institute of British Columbia (REIBC) and his 51st year with the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC). He became a pioneer in the industry, never short of ideas and constantly launching new ventures.

In 1972, Rudy founded Niho Land and Cattle Company, which became one of the largest recreational landholders in British Columbia. He co-founded LandQuest Realty in 1996, specializing in the marketing of rural and recreational properties. In 2000, Landcor Data Corporation was launched and became BC’s premier source of real estate data, delivering the gold standard in automated property valuation for residential properties in the province.

Throughout his career, Rudy never lost his love for the outdoors, dedicating time to gardening and enjoying the fruits and vegetables he grew each year.

Those who knew Rudy often delighted in his captivating stories of adventure—tales so incredible that few could believe their authenticity. He was frequently encouraged to write a book about his life, a dream he sadly did not realize. However, his wife Joanne hopes to see this dream come to fruition.

Rudy believed in giving back and proudly supported numerous charities, including St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. In partnership with Coast Capital Savings, the Rudy Nielsen Scholarship Award was established at Simon Fraser University in 2023 to support students who have demonstrated perseverance through adversity.

Rudy was a trailblazer and an innovator, driven by his endless pursuit of new ideas. He lived life to the fullest and inspired those around him with his accomplishments. Over the years, he received numerous awards and merits, including a Certificate of Merit from the Vancouver Police in 1983 for apprehending a suspect responsible for numerous break-and-enters of offices in Vancouver over a three-year period.

His heroes included figures like John Wayne, and he embodied the spirit of adventure they represented.

As Hunter S. Thompson said, “Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” Rudy truly embodied this spirit.

“Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway.” —John Wayne

Rudy will be profoundly missed and forever held in our hearts.

A celebration of Rudy’s life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2026, at Victory Memorial Park in South Surrey (14831 28th Ave., Surrey, BC V4P 1P3).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Myeloma Canada, BC Cancer, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

For inquiries, please contact Victory Memorial Park 604-536-6522.