Robert Strijckers
Born: 23 April 1939
Died: 18 March 2024
Bob Strijckers, aged 84, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2024. He is survived by his beloved wife Joan; children, Paul (Kim) and Robert (Marnie); grandchildren, Braydin, Liam, Perrin and Ryelr; brother Jean and family in Belgium.
Bob was born on April 23, 1939 in Hasselt, Belgium, to Gilberte Vreven and Louis Strijckers. As a teenager, he enrolled in Military Cadet school, leading to an education in the Belgium Military College. In 1959, he transferred to Canadian Navy's officers training program HMCS Venture. While based in Canada, he met and married Elizabeth Joan Fletcher of Victoria BC. Upon completion of the HMCS Venture officers training program in 1963, Bob, with Joan and their first son, Paul, returned to Belgium to continue his career with the Belgium Navy commanding minesweepers, and advancing to become a senior member of the Belgium Navy's Frigate building program.
In 1977, Bob with his family in tow, moved to Vancouver where he pursued a varied career from leading a commercial submarine company to being part of INTEG (engineering consulting firm). In 1983, Bob and Joan relocated to Jakarta, Indonesia to continue his work with INTEG on the design of a power plant. The next job, in 1987, took Bob further afield to Kupang, West Timor, Indonesia, working on a CIDA funded development program. His last adventure in Indonesia, was working as a consultant with a Dive/Submarine company-based in Bali, Indonesia
In 1993, Bob retired and returned to Victoria to be closer to family. In retirement, Bob liked to travel with his wife Joan, visiting Belgium on an almost annual basis plus exploring over 60 countries.
Bob will be remembered for his love of family, jokes, and funny faces, and will be dearly remembered by his family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives he enriched.
Published by The Times Colonist from Mar. 28 to Mar. 30, 2024.
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