Gerry passed peacefully on April 8, 2024. Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years Linda, his daughter Deanna (Ken Puls) and granddaughter Annika, and son Jason (Francine Street). Gerry was predeceased by his mother Dorothy (1988), father Orval (2001) and sister Carolyn (2019).
Gerry was born in 1946 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He and his family lived in Gull Lake for a time before moving to BC when he was 18. He worked for the Dept of Transport surveying and in the engineering department for forestry companies before changing paths and starting accounting studies at Nanaimo Vocational School where he met his future wife, Linda.
While working to achieve his accounting degree he worked for Crown Zellerbach and received his Registered Industrial Accountant degree in 1976. This designation changed to Certified Management Accountant in 1991. The various accounting bodies amalgamated in 2015 so in retirement he was a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant).
During his career, he and the family lived in Courtenay, in a logging camp (Kokish) on northern Vancouver Island twice, in Burnaby then back to Courtenay for several years until retiring to Nanaimo in 2006.
Gerry had a number of interests, creating stained glass pieces in the ‘80’s, golfing, and gardening. Upon retirement in Nanaimo, he joined the Nanaimo Rhododendron Club and managed to plant more than 100 rhododendrons in his and Linda’s small city lot.
Gerry battled a stage 4 cancer diagnosis for 3 years. He endured infections, surgery, covid and 56 chemo treatments. He would spend hours working in his garden after each chemo treatment much to the surprise and delight of his doctors.
Gerry will be greatly missed by his family and friends and all the neighbours who enjoyed a chat while walking by his incredible garden.
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