Longtime pillar of the community Harry Kroeker passed away this week, leaving behind multiple contributions to the city he cared for and a loving family.

The 77-year-old succumbed to medical complications due to diabetes the morning of March 2, just two weeks shy of his 78th birthday.

Kroeker’s family is a large one, and he’s survived by sons Don, Dave, Mike, Dan and Tim, his daughter Jana, and wife Marlene.

“I think our family — our town — has lost someone who cared very much for them,” Don said.

Kroeker was a man who loved to sing, Jana said.

“There was always, always music in our house growing up,” she said.

He was even part of a quartet when he was in bible school in his early 20s.

Don said his father was also a wrestling fan.

“He’d watch it with a passion, taught us kids how to wrestle and then got mad at us for wrestling,” Don said.

Born March 22, 1937, Kroeker met his wife of 54 years when the two were just elementary school students in their hometown of Morden, Man.

They were high school sweethearts, and in 1960 were married in Edmonton, Jana said.

Having worked for various people in the lumber retail business, in 1978 Kroeker and his family moved from Chilliwack to Merritt where he went into business for himself when he purchased the Merritt Building Supply store.

In the late 1990s he sold his business and retired, spending time on road trips with Marlene. The Oregon coast was their favourite place to go.

Back in 1980, after just two years in Merritt, Kroeker ran for alderman. He was elected to council with 662 votes — the most in that year’s election.

It was the first time he had ever taken up politics.

“I think he always wanted to be part of change,” Don said.

Kroeker served on city council for 21 years, two of which were spent as mayor. He was an alderman for back-to-back two-year terms from 1980 to 1984.

Between 1986 and 1988 Kroeker served as mayor, but wouldn’t see the council table again until the end of the century.

Kroeker was successful in his bid for a seat on council in the 1999 municipal election. He served as a councillor for the next five consecutive terms until the municipal election this past November, when his final bid for another term was unsuccessful.

His colleagues on city council remember him as a knowledgeable, dedicated councillor who made his decisions based on what he thought would benefit the entire community.

Merritt Mayor Neil Menard found a mentor in Kroeker when he became part of council last year.

“He was a straight shooter. He didn’t give me any guff. If I needed some help with some stuff, he gave it to me; if I had questions, he gave me the answer,” Menard said.

Once Menard became mayor, he still met with Kroeker to chat now and then, he said.

“He taught me a lot in a short time,” Menard said.

Coun. Dave Baker also remembers Kroeker as a mentor to him his first year on council back in 2008.

“I remember many times talking to him about different issues and he was always good at giving accurate background [information],” Baker said.

Former councillor and mayor Clara Norgaard has known Kroeker since the 1950s.

She said if he thought something was good for the community, he would champion it to the bitter end.

One of Kroeker’s biggest contributions to the community was helping to get the funding to build the Merritt Civic Centre.

Other accomplishments of Kroeker’s include supporting upgrades to the sewer system, purchasing the Central Park and golf course property, and helping to establish the visitor information centre at exit 286 along the Coquihalla Highway.

During his life, Kroeker was also heavily involved with the Rotary Club, and served as a director with the TransCanada Yellowhead Highway Association.

“You couldn’t ask for a better person to be in service to the citizens of Merritt,” Menard said.

A public memorial for Kroeker will be held this Saturday at the Crossroads Community Church at 3 p.m.

People can make a donation in Kroeker’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in lieu of flowers.