Neil Elwood Tikka of Wishkah Valley passed away on Monday, April 8, 2019, at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 81. Neil was born on June 8, 1937, in Aberdeen, to parents, Armus and Sadie Tikka.

Neil graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1955 and attended the University of Washington, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He married Nancy B. Phifer on Dec. 30, 1959. They had 53 wonderful years together before Nancy passed away on April 8, 2013.

Neil had worked for ITT Rayonier and National Bank of Commerce. Neil started businesses with partners, such as the Tikka & Entus Construction and Harbor Redi Mix. He bought his first dump truck in 1967, and a new business started, Tikka Construction. His sons worked with him building logging roads and other construction projects. He also had businesses with his daughters, Cari, raising Black Angus cows, and Leslie, The Links Restaurant in Elma. Neil never really retired, he was always busy. He worked in the woods with his sons and mowed for the Port of Grays Harbor, at the airport.

Neil was a member of the Aberdeen Elks and Phi Kappa PSI. He belonged to an investment group (The Coffee Guys) that met weekly. He liked playing chess, poker, pinochle and blackjack. He was an avid Sudoku solver.

Neil met Robin Venn in 2013. The two enjoyed time together, going on trips to Hawaii and to Vegas several times with family. He liked driving down the coast with Robin and their two dogs.

Neil is survived by his children, Craig (Machelle) Tikka, Doug (Nancy) Tikka, Cari Tikka (Rene Boaglio), Leslie Tikka (Julie Anderson); nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Armus and Sadie Tikka and sister Betty Munson Anderson.

The family would like to say “thank you” for all the prayers and cards.