It is with great sadness that the family of Dennis Zrum announce his peaceful passing on March 19 after a lengthy illness.
Dennis was born in Fort Frances 86 years ago to Sam & Lena Zrum and made Kenora his home.
He started as a student at Dunwoody, Saul, Smith & Co. July 1955 and became a partner in 1963. He was one of 22 partners forming Dunwoody & Co. in 1964. The company eventually merged into BDO. He served on the executive board twice. On retiring in 1999 the executive officer of BOO, Peter Held, wrote "I extend to you sincere thanks on behalf of all our partners who are greatly indebted to you for your contribution in all that they have to-day"
His passions were enjoying family, fishing, golfing, travelling and flying his CESSNA 185 for 40 years.
He was grateful to be able to enjoy two family vacations- one in Mexico - one in Jamaica where all his children and grandchildren were in attendance. His many fishing and golfing trips with his buddy Rod were always something he looked forward to. His Kenora golfing buddies knew him as TAZ or The Energizer Bunny. He valued friendship and was a loyal and appreciative friend. He was a strong man with a kind and generous heart. In retirement, he & Gayle were "on the road again" in their motorhome, spending seven years travelling in Mexico, reaching the Belize border. They were able to enjoy their winters away for over twenty years. He always said his grandmother must have been a gypsy and she passed the travelling lust on to him. He and Gayle also enjoyed cruising and took two 30 day cruises, one from Los Angeles and one from Singapore.
He was extremely proud of all his children and grandchildren and the people they became as well as their accomplishments.
He is survived by his wife Gayle; son Mark {Kathy) of Whitehorse YT, daughter Melanie (Bob) Ogilvie of Sioux Narrows ON, daughter Nancy (Dave Carty) Zrum of Winnipeg MB, daughter Leanne (Sonia) Zrum of Montreal PQ; grandchildren Brendan (Lynne Matthews) Zrum of Whitehorse YT, Jason (Julie Munich) Zrum of Halifax NS, Amii (Kris) Dominato of Rockwood ON, Dustin (Rachael Palichuk) Ogilvie of Kenora, Patrick (Kati Sidwall) Carty of Winnipeg MB; great grandchildren Gabriel and Emilia Dominato, Nolan and Nathan Ogilvie and Mabel Zrum. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Reg Reeve.
He was predeceased by his parents, brother and two sisters and their spouses.
Thank you to the medical teams on the third and second floors of Lake of the Woods District Hospital and Drs. Ramchandar and Chan of Thunder Bay. Special thank you to Henry & Laurine Goerzen who for two years took on the tasks Dennis usually attended to and also helped in his care.
No service will be held at this time.
If desired, donations may be made to Lake of the Woods Hospital Foundation or The Cancer Society. You can shed tears that he is gone or you can smile because he has lived. Please choose to smile.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Zrum family.
