Tribute

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert Hogg (Rob) announces his passing at the Cranbrook Regional Hospital on January 7, 2024, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Rob was born on December 3, 1948 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the second child and only son of Thomas and Theresa Hogg. He is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 52 years, Donna, four children of whom they are extremely proud, their wonderful, supportive spouses, and ten amazing grandchildren: Theresa Hogg Jackson (Zyoji), Malia, Theo, and Poppy; Kevin (Leni), Sam, Ari, and Cecilia; Tim (Cheryl), Nash and River; and Kerry Stanley (Matt), Cam and Abby, and by nieces and nephews in BC and Alberta.

Rob graduated from the University of British Columbia, where he met Donna on his last day as a teenager. After completing his teacher training, Rob and Donna married in 1971 and came to Cranbrook in 1972 as Rob had a teaching position at Laurie Middle School. What was originally planned as a one-year stay turned into a life-long home in the Kootenays, where they raised their ever-growing family. Rob worked for the local school district for 48 years, the first 33 as a classroom teacher and later as an on-call Educational Assistant. Rob also taught as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in the United States for two years (New Hampshire 1982 and Maryland 1988). Upon his second retirement, he began working as a (grand)parent volunteer at St. Mary’s Elementary which he found very enjoyable and rewarding.

Rob and Donna loved to travel, and together they visited forty countries in Europe, Asia and North Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Rob was also fortunate to travel with his son Tim through China, Mongolia, and along the Trans-Siberian Railroad through Russia, and to Chicago for a week of Cubs baseball with his son Kevin.

Donna and Rob also spent seventeen winters in their second home in Santa Clara, Mexico, where they enjoyed the company of friends from Cranbrook as well as the many wonderful local residents they met there.

Rob’s life on earth was shorter than he had anticipated, but it was filled with more blessings and adventures than he could have ever imagined. He considered himself very fortunate to have lived the quality of life that he enjoyed. He left this world unafraid and with his bucket list almost completed.

He would like to thank Dr. VanRensburg and the staffs of the Fisher Peak Clinic, and the Emergency Unit and Oncology Ward at the Cranbrook Hospital for the wonderful care they provided to him during his illness and to his wife Donna for the love and support she provided each day during this difficult time in their lives.

A funeral Mass to celebrate Rob’s life will take place at Christ the Servant Church on Saturday, January 13, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cranbrook Food Bank in Rob’s name.