Kitselas First Nations has lost a valued member of its community.
Band councillor Ron Gerow passed away suddenly on Jan. 6 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 55 years old, and leaves behind wife Judy, six children, and 12 grandchildren.
Judy said people have come to her and spoken very highly of him.
“He was well respected,” she said, adding that Ron was very touched when the fire department honoured him at its 2010 annual Christmas dinner.
Ron helped start the volunteer fire department in Gitaus, the Kitselas subdivision east of Terrace and Thornhill on Hwy16, and was involved in building close ties with the Thornhill volunteer fire department.
“That was a vision....to partner up with Thornhill and have real fire protection,” Judy said.
Both Gerows joined in with the Thornhill department seven years ago, with Ron becoming a lieutenant.
“That was really something he enjoyed,” Judy said.
Thornhill fire department chief Wes Patterson said Ron was a big part of his life and the fire department’s life.
“He will be missed,” he said, saying that Ron took on a lot of extra training, time, and responsibilities for his lieutenant rank.
“He was a great friend. He was always willing to help out those that needed help,” Patterson said.
“You could see with his family, and his community...he really cared about the community.”
Ron also devoted a lot of time trying to improve the lives of youth in the community.
“He just wanted to make sure kids had something to do, he was really concerned about the kids getting into drugs and alcohol,” Judy said.
His most important concern was for family, she said, adding that everyone was able to make it home for Christmas.
And that’s when the couple renewed their vows.
“He planned it himself,” Judy said. “That was the last thing he wanted to get done, was renew our vows.”
Born in the Burns Lake area, Ron worked as a logger for more than 30 years in the Terrace area, and more recently as a carpenter for a local construction company.
Kitselas chief councillor Glenn Bennett said Ron was very instrumental in helping getting the volunteer fire department into the community, and was also actively involved in helping the youth in the community.
The elected council member passed away before he could finish his first term. But with full council elections scheduled for June of this year, there likely won’t be a by-election to fill the empty seat.