Pauline Okerblom

Pauline Okerblom

June 30, 1924 - August 20, 2025

San Luis Obispo - Pauline Rae Okerblom was born in Wheeling, West Virginia June 30, 1924. She passed away August 20, 2025, shortly after a fall that broke her hip at the age of 101. She was tenderly cared for by her daughter-in-law, Eileen and son Bob.

As a young woman, she loved dancing at USO functions with the servicemen fighting in World War II. She subsequently met Victor John Okerblom, a sailor who served on a naval submarine during the war.

In spring of 1952, they were married and raised one daughter and three sons. They called Illinois, Washington, Maryland, Delaware and New Hampshire their home before settling in California. Her three sons, doctors John, William, and Bob Okerblom are local Family Physicians, although William is also an attorney. Pauline loved being a mother and considered motherhood her greatest accomplishment. She was immensely proud of all of her children, but, in spite of raising three doctors, she was never inclined to follow a physicians advice or guidance. She believed and preached about the virtues of natural foods and exercise, although she was quite fond of ice cream and cookies.

She liked adventure and travel. Her husband was more of a homebody, so she would explore Europe and the world with her good friend Ruth. She snow skiied until she was 90, hiked Canadian ice fields at 92, slept on tatami mats in Japan at 93 and swam at the beach in Hawaii at 94 . She drove at 100 years of age (against our wishes). She had what her husband called, Sisu (Finnish for resilience, courage).

Pauline enjoyed card games and Bridge. She was an accomplished duplicate Bridge player and was able to play long after her memory began to decline. But more than anything she loved dancing and Zumba. She said that when she danced, she was young again . She continued these activities until her death.

Pauline was an avid reader, and always had a book. She enjoyed a glass of Bourbon every day at 4:00, a bit of television and a hot bath every night. She was blessed with incredible genetics. Just prior to her death, she and her three living siblings were amongst the four oldest living siblings in the United States

Pauline was proceeded in death by her grandsons Eric and Michael, her daughter Donna, her sister Ruth and spouse Victor John. She is survived by siblings Al, Phil and Doris and over 30 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren. Her remains wil be interred next to Eric, Donna and Victor at the Los Alamos Cemetery at a later date.