Rob Kroek

Rob Kroek, who passed away on June 5 at age 71, devoted more than five decades to British Columbia’s forest industry and was well known throughout the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island forest community. Rob’s forestry career began at just 16 years old, working weekends and summers in cleanup at the Youbou sawmill. He later moved through a variety of mill positions, including the challenging role of tallyman, earning a reputation for versatility, hard work and a willingness to learn. As the Youbou operation declined, Rob repeatedly adapted to new roles before eventually transferring to Crofton Pulp and Paper, where he continued his career until retiring in 2016. Over 55 years in the industry, Rob embodied the belief that there is value in “knowing how to do more than one thing.” Colleagues knew him as a dependable co-worker, a thoughtful mentor and a proud forest industry worker. [Condensed from the family obituary – see Read More]