It is with profound sadness and feelings of immense loss that we mourn the sudden passing of Robert Harry Krewusik on Monday, September 29, 2025, at his home in Grande Cache, AB, at the age of 85 years.

Bob was born in Lamont, AB, on September 10, 1940, and spent his youth in Vegreville, AB, where he became skilled in curling and spent a fair bit of time in his dad’s pool hall. He was very proud of his time with the Boy Scouts of Canada, where he achieved the rank of Queen Scout, and attended World Jamborees in Niagara on the Lake in 1955 and the 50th anniversary of scouting in London, England, in 1957. Within that organization, he gained skills, dedication, and a commitment to community service, all of which would serve him well throughout his lifetime.

The family moved to Edmonton in 1958, where Bob completed high school, earning final credits at Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer and Alberta College. Truth be told, he may have spent more time sinking the 8 ball at the large billiards hall around the corner.

It is fair to say that Bob spent a few years “finding himself”, exploring a diverse variety of jobs and ventures, including two years in Vancouver, living in a penthouse with his sister and their beloved black standard poodle, Cassius.

A return to Edmonton in 1968, a chance encounter on Jasper Avenue, and Bob’s life changed, and his future was determined. In March of 1969, he found himself working as a surveyor for Associated Engineering in the wilderness on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The company’s mission: build a town! The New Town of Grande Cache was born, and Bob’s story begins.

Living in a single men’s camp, he came to meet a young fellow surveyor from Saskatchewan who mentioned one evening in June that he was going to Edmonton for the weekend to visit his sister, a first-year teacher. Bob responded, “Is she pretty?” Apparently, he got the answer he was looking for, and having nothing better to do, Bob tagged along. A blind date was arranged, and in November of that same year, following a whirlwind long-distance romance, Bob and Louise married and began their life journey together.

Grande Cache became their forever home. Careers were fashioned, a house built, lifetime friendships formed, with two sweet boys completing the picture.

At the time, Grande Cache could hardly be called a town. Isolation was the reality, amenities were few, and fun happened in the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, trapshooting, and exploring the beautiful wilderness with friends who became family.

Bob became involved in numerous clubs and organizations over the years, where members dedicated countless hours to building this brand-new community. Families were young, and parks and playgrounds soon popped up. A new gun range proved to be a busy place for trap shooters, and the Snowmobile Club filled the need for speed, adventure, and provided tales to be shared to this day. Lions, Elks, and the Fish and Game Club- his name was included on each roster.

Many evenings were spent enjoying one of his favourite pastimes at the Grande Cache Curling Club, and he took up hockey with the Mutts for a time. That career was less than stellar, but he was “one of the boys”.

He held several jobs in those early years, employed by Smoky River Housing Division, Mordway Development, Grande Mountain Resources, and Smoky River Coal.

Finally, in June of 1976, Bob found his forever home with the Town of Grande Cache as Building Inspector and Fire Chief. His position evolved into that of Development Officer, and he filled those roles until his retirement in 2004.

Bob was a man of many talents. He was a visionary who saw what wasn’t and imagined what could be. And within his position with the town, he was given flexibility and resources to turn his dreams into reality. His legacy will long remain at the Municipal Campground, ball diamonds, Hideaway Camp, the beautiful and challenging Grande Cache Golf Club, and the Tourism Centre.

His greatest accomplishment and where he felt most pride was with the Grande Cache Fire Department. In 1969, they were a fledgling group of untrained, young but very eager volunteers, using old and often unreliable equipment to keep the community safe.

Under Bob’s leadership as Chief, working with a dedicated, professional, well-trained group of firefighters, they became a highly respected and extremely successful team, acknowledged regionally and provincially. Bob served on the Provincial Fire Chiefs Association and was very proud to be awarded 20 and 30-year Exemplary Service Medals from the Lieutenant Governor on behalf of the Province of Alberta.

Following retirement in 2004, Bob was elected to the Grande Yellowhead School Board, where he served two terms. There was also travel, camping, golfing, fishing, gardening, and always something to be built. In his last years, he settled into a period of quiet contentment, puttering in the garden, spending time with friends and family, and truly enjoying the annual spring gopher shoot on the Williams ranch.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Anne, and by his infant brother Nelson.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Louise, the one from the blind date that would never turn into anything serious. It turned into 56 full and rewarding years together. Mourning his loss intensely are his sons Rob and Devin, daughter-in-law Laura, and his only sibling, his loving sister Barbara; grandchildren Cale, Kelsey, Liv, and Alexa brought new joys and memories, and wonderful new meaning to Bob’s life as a Grampa. Also missing Bob’s presence are Louise’s siblings: Bernard Deters (Sheila Soenen), Alison Deters, Susan (Ken) Feltin and Jim (Jan) Deters; uncle Bob’s nieces and nephews share in his loss: Quincey and daughter Spencer, Karl, Kelan (Jess) and Kurt Deters, Kenda (Dave) Nelson, Bobbi (Marc) Paolini, Laura (Scott) Watkins, Jennifer (Michael) Bain, Christopher (Alison) Feltin, Bryan (Laurel) Feltin, and Cameron(Robyn) Feltin, as well as Michael (Jenn) Deters and Steven Deters

A tribute to Bob and a celebration of his remarkable life will take place on Saturday, October 18, at 11 am at the Grande Cache Fire Station #33 (10002 Shand Avenue), Grande Cache, AB. Parking will be limited. Those with mobility issues may be dropped off at the west door.

In lieu of floral tributes, memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to 100 Caring Hearts Grande Cache or the Grande Cache Hospital Foundation (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/grande-cache-hospital-foundation/).