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Rusty Berrow
November 3, 1929 - October 21, 2021
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Rusty passed away peacefully at home on Thursday morning. He came home after his recent stay in hospital and although bedridden he very much enjoyed his last two weeks visiting with many friends and family. Each evening he had a rum and Pepsi (according to him much better than coke!) with all who came by for happy hour. He would have been 92 November 3. He was the most social person I know, always first to the party and wanting to talk to everyone.
He made new friends everywhere he went. With his many hospital stays he became a great favorite of the nurses. It was kind of like the bar at ‘Cheers’ when they saw him come in, they’d yell “Rusty!” He had some friends he had known for 85 years and some were brand new and he loved them all. All the guys and gals at the A & W were the best! He loved going for coffee until he just couldn’t get up that early any more. In his neighborhood he was called the “Mayor” as nothing got past him! He was always interested in the comings and goings of his neighbors whom he loved, including the newest addition, baby Theo. Rusty didn’t hesitate to get a teasing jab in wherever he could, whether your yard was messy and you were too slow finishing your renovation or your tree was dropping leaves in his yard!
Rusty was a true Islander, born in the King’s Daughters Hospital, Duncan and raised at Cowichan Station. His mother, Winnifred (Weeks) Berrow was born at Cowichan Station. Her family homesteaded at Weeks Lake which was named after them. His father was born in California. In his working years Rusty spent the first half logging up and down the Island and on the mainland for many companies including Norrie, Brown, Cox, Uzzell, Dougan, Crown Zellerbach before spending the last years on the boom at the Crofton Pulp and Paper mill where he occasionally went in for an unintended “dip.” Dad really enjoyed his years in the bush although it was hard work and dangerous. We spent a lot of time in the logging camps at Texada Island and Jervis Inlet, it was the best memories ever! Dad fell his last tree at the age of 90 years old. Rusty so appreciated Alex, his only son, who lived with him and in the last 2 years looked after all dad’s needs so he was able to stay in his own home instead of a care home. He would tell anyone who would listen what a good job Alex was doing in caring for him, putting coffee on in the morning, making all his meals and looking after the property. (Although his weed eating skills weren’t quite up to scratch, all else was top notch!) Grandpa loved his grandchildren Bodie, Leland, Tyler, Katie and Jake. Always ready to help them in any way he could. They thought their grandpa was amazing and agreed when he would say of the young workers in the woods, “They couldn’t even carry my lunch bucket!” The grandsons, when in their teens, had a hard time keeping up with him! Then came the greatgrandchildren, Brooklyn, Carter and Remington. He so enjoyed watching them grow, his face would light up when they came into the room. They soon were repeating his farewell of “See you in the funny papers! Page 3!”
Rusty is predeceased by his wife of 55 years Margret (Eastman), his grandson Leland Kroek, brother Syd Berrow, sisters Louise Mouser, Barbara McKinnon. Survived by his oldest brother Wilfred Berrow and youngest brother Ernie Berrow, his daughters Daphne Eze, Sandra Kroek (John), Virginia Neville and a little later son, Alex Berrow. “Best mistake I ever made!” he used to say.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 13th, 2 pm at the Ramada Inn, Duncan
In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to KCTS 9. 609-2818 Main St, Vancouver, BC, V5T 0C1
Or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. 110-1525 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 8R9.
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From: H.W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre
H.W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre staff send our condolences to family and friends.
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Private service arrangements have been made.
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