The family are sad to announce the passing of Harry Orok, aged 93 years, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 10th, 2018 at his residence. Born in Fort William to John and Tina Orok.
Following high school graduation at Selkirk, Harry immediately started working in the business field and eventually obtained his accounting designation. He became self-employed after starting his own accounting business formerly known as H. Orok Public Accounting, which proudly served numerous small business firms in the Thunder Bay region for many decades.
In his youth, Harry served for the Navy Military during the Korean War and became an orderly clerk for a prisoner camp located near Thunder Bay.
For many years, Harry would gather with family and friends at his former camp on Sandy Beach. He also had a sweet tooth and could always be found with a sweet in his front pocket.
Harry valued well-established routines that remained consistent for many years. These included frequent trips to the Thunder Bay Public Library and he had a keen interest in the stock market, as well as an appreciation for music.
One of his most notable accomplishments was Harry’s home-grown vegetable garden that he maintained over the many years that he resided at his home on Victoria Avenue. As well, Harry loved collecting wild berries and mushrooms from around the Thunder Bay region.
Harry enjoyed making day-trips to the Grand Portage Casino with his daughter Jan to gamble. He would frequently joke that he “donated” when he would leave without any winnings.
You could always find Harry nestled behind his type-writer. He loved writing witty memoirs for his grandchildren and nieces. He also had a passion for solving cross-word puzzles, golfing and he was a frequent traveller.
Harry is survived by his loving children and grandchildren: Calvin Orok and his children Maxwell and Gavin; Kevin Orok and his children Serena and Julie; Bruce Orok (Rowena) and their children Shayne and Justin; Jan Mior (Derrick) and their children Danielle and Ashley; great-grandchild Olivia; niece Bonnie Cornell of Edmonton and Barbara Bates-Kaario (Archie) of Vancouver; sister in-law Natalie Carpenter; brother in-law Ken Carpenter and numerous other relatives.
He was predeceased by his brothers William and Jack Orok; sister Eleanor Bates; sister in-law Bertha Orok and Elaine Carpenter; brother in-law Ross Carpenter.
But most of all, his memory will live on in the heart of his wife of 64 years, Shirley Orok.
A funeral service for Harry Orok will be held on Friday August 17th, 2018 at 1:00pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church and will be followed by a reception.
The family asks that donations be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 149 or St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
