May 15, 1936 - August 2, 2020
Harvey Troberg of Fraser Lake passed peacefully in the company of family and the caring staff at Nechako Stewart Manor in Vanderhoof, B.C., on the morning of August 2nd, 2020.
The first child of Madalon Troberg (née Brindley) and John Cameron Sullivan, both involved in the rodeo circuit, Harvey led, by any standard, a very rich life. After spending his early years living on a number of small farms in the Vancouver area, Harvey moved to Dawson City as a young teen, where his mother remarried to Walter Troberg, the foreman of a gold dredging operation. Walter adopted Harvey as his son, and Harvey had many stories about his years growing up on the creeks of the Yukon and Klondike.
At 20, Harvey moved to South America for 15 years, working as a gold-dredging foreman himself for Placer Gold in Bolivia, Peru, and Columbia. In 1968, he married Judy (née Atkinson) in Vancouver, and, with her two young boys, Jim and Bob Houliston, they moved to Fraser Lake, BC, as Harvey had found work at the then Placer-run Endako molybdenum mine as a heavy-duty mechanic.
The family bought property on Francois Lake Road, where they built a small farm of Appaloosa horses, beef and milk cows, and chickens. After a long day's work, Harvey enjoyed spending time with the animals and using (and repairing) his equipment, boats, and old vehicles. Harvey was also an active member of the Molyhills Golf Course until he was 80.
In the 80s and 90s, Harvey returned to dredging in Bolivia followed by similar work in Canada, California, New Zealand, and Ghana. He was last employed at West Fraser Sawmills.
Harvey had many personas, but his sense of humour, sharp wit, penchant for storytelling, great dancing, and charming way stand out to those who knew him. Even through his last weeks, Harvey greatly enjoyed reminiscing about his friendships forged at the Endako Mine, Molyhills Golf Course, and West Fraser, and the many adventures that punctuated his life.
Harvey is predeceased by his sister, Cassandra Crayford (née Troberg), and his step-son, Bob Houliston. He is survived by family in Dawson City, Yukon: his sister, Jannice Troberg, and her son Christopher, his brother-in-law, Gerry Crayford, niece Vikki, and nephew Lawrence and their families. He is also survived by his loving former wife, Judy Troberg, his daughter, Michelle Troberg, son-in-law, John Whitman, two grandsons, Xavier and Félix Troberg-Serruys, his stepson, Jim Houliston, his son Sean and wife Cindy, and Bob's children, Melissa and Michael.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. John Hospital and Nechako Stewart Manor for providing expert care for three and a half years as Harvey struggled with Parkinson's and Lewy body disease.
A celebration of life for Harvey will be held locally once the current restrictions on gatherings are lifted.