Joseph F. "Trader Okkie" Okkelberg

     Joseph F. “Trader Okkie" Okkelberg, 67, of Williamsport died unexpectedly Thursday, September 26, 2019 at his home. Surviving is his loving wife of 32 years, Eileen S. (Miller) Okkelberg.

     Born January 6, 1952 in Manhattan, NY he was a son of the late Joseph F., Sr. and Iris (Price) Haywood.

     Joe was a 1970 graduate of Williamsport High School and attended WACC for computer science.  He worked at Brodart and then Litton Electron Devices, L3 for 18 years. A man more commonly known as Trader Okkie, he shared his love for antiques and collectibles with others as the owner and operator of Trader Okkie’s in Montgomery. He enjoyed collecting, selling, trading, and could be found searching for treasures at auctions with his wife.

     Joe shared his engineering mind and artistic soul to help influence and guide children as a coach for Odyssey of the Mind in the Williamsport School District and was a member of the Williamsport  Marching Band Parent Association. He was a family oriented man who passed on his love for collectibles and methodical ways to his children.

     In addition to his wife he is survived by two children, Matthew A. Okkelberg, of Williamsport and Elyssa I. Okkelberg (Klaus Zhang), of Mobile, AL; a step-father, Harry Haywood, of Linden; two brothers, Gerald Haywood (Karen), of Williamsport and Robert Haywood, of Linden; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved Chihuahua Okkie.

     He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Roxanne Rook and Michael Haywood.

     A viewing will be held from 3 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1st at Sanders Mortuary, 821 Diamond Street, Williamsport where the family will receive friends. Burial services will be held privately.

     In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Joe’s name may be made to Jackson Primary PTO, 2500 Newberry Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 or children’s books can be brought to the visitation on Tuesday at Sanders to be donated in Joe’s name to the Jackson Primary School Library.

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