After a brief illness, Gerald Tokaruk died peacefully at the Aberdeen Hospital on Sunday, June 15th. He had an incredible 85 years of a very full life that saw him as an educator, hobby farmer, wonderful husband, father and grandfather.  He was always very grateful for the community of excellent friends he had in Carleton Place, On, and, for the past 15 years, in the neighbours and dear friends in Little Harbour.

Gerry was born in Winnipeg on July 19th, 1939 to parents John and Rose (Novitsky). He graduated from MacMaster University and later from the University of Ottawa with a Masters of Education Administration. He met Anne (Archibald) in 1964 in Cornwall and they married in 1965 and settled in Carleton Place, Ontario for 46 years. There he was a teacher and a high school principal in Lanark County and he and Anne ran a farm with cattle and fowl as well as beautiful gardens and a greenhouse. 

After moving to Little Harbour in 2013, Gerry and Anne immersed themselves into this wonderful community. Gerry helped out with community activities and was a member of the Gyros. He and Anne had many incredible trips over the years such as Costa Rica, China, and Portugal, Chile, but the favourites were seeing his sons and their families in either Prague, Australia, Mexico or B.C. or countless trips to the music festival in April!

Gerry is survived by his three children: John (Liv-Monica Klungtveit), David (Sharma Yawrenko) and Helen (Brent Bannerman) and his five grandchildren: Simon, Caitlyn, Grace, David and Heidi as well as his two sisters, Janice Lizzotte and Wendy MacMillan both of Hamilton, ON as well as many devoted brothers and sisters-in law and many cherished nieces and nephews. Nothing gave Gerry more pride or happy tears than seeing his grandchildren either playing cards all together or performing music. He was an incredibly generous man to all his family, friends and neighbours and had a sweet, giving disposition. No one could ever tell jokes quite in the same fashion as Uncle Gerry and he will be missed by all who knew him. 

Memorial donations may be made in Gerry's name to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society or Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.

A Service of Remembrance will take place at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow at 2pm on Friday, June 20th.