Steven Stanley Rurka

Steve passed away on November 28, 2018 in Chilliwack at the age of 84. He was predeceased by his wife Mabel, his sisters, Joyce, Susie, and Diane, and brothers David, Mike, Roy, Emil, and Marty. He will be sadly missed by his children Kathleen, Lorelei, Mark and Marla, as well as his beloved grandchildren Mikaela and Marley. Dad gave everything he had both to his job as a power lineman and to his family. An incredibly hard worker all his life, he earned respect for his work ethic and loyalty wherever he went. Dad started his career in the electrical trade with Calgary Power in 1949 digging holes with a bar and spoon and eventually started climbing poles in 1951. He began working for BC Electric in Vancouver in 1956, until the strike in ’59, when he returned to work in Calgary. Dad returned to BC with family in tow in 1966 to work in Vancouver until the steel powerlines coming out of the Peace needed linemen in the late 1960’s. At this time, the family settled in the Fraser Valley in Chilliwack. Throughout the ‘70’s Dad worked on the many power lines built in BC by Peace Power Contractors and Columbia River Contractors. During the 80’s with the downturn of linework in BC, Dad headed east with Mom to work for Ontario Hydro, as well as into Washington DC and California. Dad began working for BC Hydro in ’89 as a shift lineman at the LMS Surrey Lineroom and remained there until his retirement. In November 2000, Dad received the first ever, newly created BC Hydro President’s Award to celebrate outstanding employee achievements. Dad was a quietly humble man, but we were all enormously proud that he was publicly recognized for his commitment to outstanding service and for his unwavering work ethic. Regardless of where Dad worked, he was always respected, well-liked and appreciated by his many work mates, many of whom became life-long friends. Dad was a kind-hearted, quiet, gentleman and a loyal husband and father. He cared for and supported his family his entire life. His solid, loyal and devoted presence in our lives will be deeply missed.