Dr. Ronald Lee Tokar

Dr. Ronald Lee Tokar died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on March 17, 2025. He was 81 years old.

Ron was born in Dearborn, Michigan to Helen Boissineau and Alfred Tokar on March 14, 1944. Growing up in the Detroit area, he found his passions early in life. Foremost among them was falconry. In high school, despite living in the suburbs, Ron acquired a red-tailed hawk. He apparently did so without the necessary license. "Law flouted," the local newspaper blared, when the bird escaped and was found roaming the neighborhood.

Ron was drawn to the outdoors and had a deep love of animals, whose company he often preferred. He dreamed of living in Alaska, and after earning his medical degree in Seattle, he moved to Ketchikan to work for the Indian Health Service.

Ron later completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Washington, before returning to Alaska on his sailboat. There he set up the Eye Clinic of Ketchikan. He also traveled throughout southeast Alaska on his boat providing eye care services to remote communities. He became a licensed pilot and continued to explore the region in his plane, visiting lakes and backwoods to fish and hunt.

It was at a country swing dance in Ketchikan that Ron met Milissa Gierman, who would become his wife of 42 years. They later moved to Walla Walla, where they started a family. Ron continued to add to his long list of interests: riding horses through the Blue Mountains, breeding birds of prey, and training his beloved German Wirehaired Pointers.

Reserved and soft-spoken, Ron was deeply loved by his patients for his gentle nature and the time he took to listen to them. Despite his busy schedule, he always found time for his two sons, teaching them to hunt, fish, ski, and play hockey.

Over the years the Tokar home took on the character of a small zoo. Besides the hawks, falcons, horses, and hunting dogs, there were Jack Russell terriers, an African grey parrot, leopard geckos, iguanas, turtles, frogs, snakes, and various fish living in large aquariums.

There was also a steady stream of other house guests: Golden eagles, great horned owls and foxes were among the many animals brought to Ron for rehabilitation. He never turned them away.

Ron is lovingly remembered by his wife, Milissa; his sons, Dash and Dylan; his nephews, Joe, Dan (Maddie) and Nate Solomon (Michele); his brother, Dr. Alan Tokar (Michael); and sisters, Renee Tokar (Larry) and Sharon Magnuson (Bill); and his great-nephews, Jack, Lily, Naevi and Kovur Solomon. The family would like to extend their gratitude to his caregivers and his physician, Dr. Jon Gardner, for their care and support of Ron over these past years.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2025, from 11am-2pm, at Abeja Winery, 2014 Mill Creek Rd, Walla Walla.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blue Mountain Wildlife through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.