Rudy Okker

Born in Zambia in 1944, Rudy grew up in South Africa with his two brothers and parents. He learned to speak five languages: Dutch, English, German, Zulu and Afrikaans. A highly intelligent young man, he finished school a year early, only to start college too young. He used to joke that he spent more time playing pinball than studying. To give him some extra time to mature, his parents arranged for him to spend a year in North Carolina as an exchange student. He spent a year with the Sherrill family in their loving care and remained lifelong friends/extended family with them until his passing.

He worked for Barclays Bank in South Africa, then transferred to the Bahamas, where he met the love of his life, Sally. They immigrated to Canada so he could study at McGill University, and his brilliance was quickly recognized by Clarkson Gordon, Chartered Accountants, which later became Ernst & Young. He became the youngest partner and worked there until his retirement.

With his loving wife Sally, he raised two daughters, Georgina and Johanna and was a devoted father, husband and grandfather throughout their childhood and adult lives.

In his retirement, he developed and deepened his love for military history, genealogy and long walks with his great friends, Dick and Jane.

A few years into his journey with Alzheimer's, he had a stroke which affected his ability to communicate, yet he amazingly managed to maintain his wonderful sense of humor, recognition of family and caring and helpful heart.

He will be particularly missed by his wife Sally, daughters Gina and Jo, grandchildren, Shauna, Emma, Max, Luka, sons-in-law, Scott and Patrick and nephews, Flake and Duane.

The family wants to extend a special thank you to Pamela and Maynard at Alps Residence for caring for him so lovingly in his last year.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either Teresa Dellar Palliative Residence, the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation or the AGI team.

A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday June 11th at 2:30 p.m. at Collins Clark funeral home, 222, A 20, Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9S 3X6.