Obituary of Veli-Jussi Tukkimäki

August 7, 1951 – Tampere, Finland

January 11, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta

Veli-Jussi (VJ) Tukkimäki, beloved husband of Elizabeth (Liz) Tukkimäki (nee Ackney), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the age of 73 years.

VJ was born in Tampere, Finland, on August 7, 1951. He immigrated to Canada in 1958, and his family eventually settled in Castlegar, BC.

VJ married Liz Ackney in 1972 in Castlegar, and they started their life together in Vancouver, BC. VJ started his career in data processing for the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). He and Liz eventually transferred to Calgary, where he built a successful commercial real estate career and taught real estate to students at Mount Royal University.

He was a member of the Bow Valley Toastmasters, Rotary International, as well as president of the former Aero Space Museum. VJ accomplished much throughout his life and was particularly proud of his kids, and that includes the many international exchange students he hosted with his family, all of whom he would consider family in their own right.

VJ was passionate about people. Whether you were his friend, associate, colleague, student, or just the person standing by him in line, VJ’s humour, charisma and social congeniality would soon have you laughing. VJ had a one-in-a-million gift of having you on the edge of your seat through his latest anecdote while feeling completely at ease in his company. He will be most remembered for his ability to bring a smile to everyone he met.

Besides his loving wife, VJ is survived by his daughter Alisa Tukkimäki and her partner Mark Thompson, son Mitch Tukkimäki and his partner Odeh Kassis, and his two grandsons, Fox and Ozmo.

VJ is also survived by his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jukka and Kim Tukkimäki, and Hannu and Sherri Tukkimäki; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to PSP Society Canada, PO Box 40, Station Main, Kingston, ON K7L 4V6, Telephone: (888) 675-0230. Website: www.pspsocietycanada.ca.

A Celebration of VJ’s Life will be held in the spring and we will announce the details shortly.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with VJ’s family here or on his memorialized Facebook page.

In living memory of Veli-Jussi Tukkimäki, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.