Col Robert Ivan "Bob" Crouse, CD (Ret'd)

    • Col Robert Ivan Crouse, CD (Ret'd)
    • CME Badge

    We regret to advise of the death of Colonel Robert Ivan Crouse, CD (Ret'd), peacefully on 2 March 2022  in Burlington ON, at the age of 93. Bob was a Korean War veteran.

    Born in Lunenburg NS, Bob attended Dalhousie University, where he was a member of the Canadian Officer Training Corps and earned a B.Sc. degree in 1948. Following this, Bob proceeded to Nova Scotia Technical College, where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1950.

    Upon completing his officer training in 1951 at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Chilliwack BC, Bob was posted as a Troop Officer to 23 Field Squadron in Chilliwack. He deployed to Korea with this unit in April 1952 as a Reconnaissance Officer. Returning to Canada in 1953, Bob joined No. 4 Works Company in  Montreal QC where he was Works Officer and Planning Officer. From here, he moved to Whitehorse YT in 1957, where he was a Bridge Engineer and a Roads Engineer with the Northwest Highway Maintenance Establishment. Bob returned to Chilliwack and 3 Field Squadron three years later as Second-in-Command.

    Bob was then posted to Army Headquarters in Ottawa as a Design Officer in the Directorate of Works. From there, he was deployed to Egypt with the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) as Detachment Commander of the RCE Detachment. Returning to Canada, Bob was posted to Fredericton NB  with Headquarters New Brunswick Area responsible for the nuclear file and, later, as Second-in-Command.

    After a year as a student at the Canadian Forces Staff College in Toronto, Bob was posted to 1 Regional Construction Engineering Office in Halifax to head the Base Maintenance Section. He was then appointed the CFB Halifax Base Construction Engineering Officer in 1968.

    Following this tour, Bob moved to the West Coast, where he was double-hatted as the CFB Esquimalt BCEO (1971-74) and Senior Staff Officer, Construction Engineering for Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters.

    Bob then returned to Ottawa and served the remainder of his career with  Chief Construction and Properties - first as the Director of Base Maintenance and then as Director General Works. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1981.

    A second career at the University of Toronto followed, where he was Director of Facilities and Services, responsible for the operation, maintenance, design, construction and security of the university's physical facilities and grounds. 

    Donations in Bob's memory may be made to The War Amps.  Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.