Håkan Bertel Alexander Rudbäck was born August 23rd, 1942 in Karleby/Kokkola, Finland to Myrtley Viola Dahlquist Rudbäck and Tor Bertel Gustav Rudbäck. He died February 28th, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington, surrounded by his family.

His family was a part of the Swede-Finn community in Finland, and the family spoke both Swedish and Finnish. He loved sailing, and from the age of ten spent as much time as he could at the local yacht club. Starting at about 13 years old, in exchange for hauling wood and supplies for the club, he got to use one of the club’s sailing dinghies. Håkan delighted in the peace and freedom of gliding through the waves, carried by the wind, under the watchful eye of his seagull friends.

At age 20, he completed his compulsory Finnish military service, working in communications. Following a series of engineering related work experiences, Håkan went to college in Helsinki and became a mechanical engineer. After college, he worked for Wärtsilä shipyards, designing ships. In 1969, he travelled on a commercial vessel to the United States via the North Atlantic in December. After docking in Boston, he flew to Seattle, where his sister Eivor and her family lived.

In 1972, Håkan went on blind date with an American girl who spoke some Finnish, Deborah Sparkman. The two hit it off, spending many Saturday nights dancing at the International Schooner (now the Tractor Tavern). They married in Seattle in December of 1974 (they celebrated their 50th anniversary last year!). Before having kids, they had many adventures, including driving the Alcan highway, cross country skiing all over the North Cascades and buying a VW bus in Europe and traveling around for six months.

Håkan’s industriousness and mechanical aptitude found productive outlets throughout the Pacific Northwest. He spent some of his first years in the US at Western Gear in Everett, where he made a group of close, lifelong friends. Håkan spent much of his career as a machinist in salmon canneries across Alaska, from the Panhandle to the Peninsula, from Prince William Sound to Bristol Bay. In Cordova he and Deb made their home in a retired BC ferry boat, and the whole family joined him five summers in a row in King Cove.

Those who knew Håkan appreciated his strong work ethic, dry sense of humor, and commitment to his family. He was ever at the ready with a “Håkanism” delivered in his trademark accent and a twinkle in his eye. Håkan always had a project going, whether it was remodeling the family house in Edmonds or fixing something with duct tape. He loved spending time with friends and family at their cabin on Center Island in the San Juans. Håkan found great contentment spending a day chipping away at the list of “Work Island” projects, punctuated by meals overlooking Lopez Sound and enjoying the sauna he built with friends and family from island lumber.

He is survived by his wife Deb Rudbäck, son Matias (Alex) Rudback and wife Sarah, daughter Annika Rudbäck and husband David Bratt, and grandchildren Owen and Hero. He is also survived by his sister Eivor Von Hagel, nephews Richard and Markus Von Hagel and family, as well as relatives in Finland.

The family is thankful to all the staff at Rosewood Courte in Edmonds who cared for Håkan for the past two years and to Continuum Hospice for all their visits in the last year.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at 2:30 pm at the Finnish Lutheran Church, 8504 13th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 in Ballard. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Compass Housing Alliance, Earth Justice or the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project.

Those who would like to can leave a message in his memory book.