Cowboys Hockey

The award of Cowboy of the Year is presented posthumously, not sympathetically or out of obligation. Rob earned this honour, possessing all the designated attributes of Cowboy of the Year, plus a few more.

To earn this award, the recipient must pass the approval of a jury of previous Cowboys of the Year. Nobody goes home from that meeting until we are all in agreement. It can sometimes be a long night, and while we had a lot of worthy nominations to consider this year, we reached a unanimous decision very quickly. There was no question that Rob was our Cowboy of the Year.

When he came to the game he brought it all and went nowhere without his sense of humour. You knew he was in the dressing room because he made sure everyone was smiling. And you knew he was on the ice because he was everywhere, and the other team was not smiling!

By his positive attitude he led the team off the ice and on the ice with his skill. To say Rob was competitive would not be untrue, but to him it was something different. It was almost to his detriment. He played as hard as he could and sometimes, if emotions got too high as they sometimes do in the game of hockey, he didn't like himself for it. We liked him for it just fine, but he just wanted to have fun out there. If you really knew him, you would know that to him winning was almost secondary. He just wanted to play and without being cliche at all, if he could have his way, everyone would be winners. He just loved the game, and I think more than that, he loved people.

Rob's wife and daughters accept his award

Over the years, as teammates we get to know each other pretty good, but never really well enough. We don't always know the pain and suffering that comes with real life beyond the game. Most of us were not aware of the battlefield in Rob's mind. Some of us knew that he had deep spiritual beliefs that shone through the darkness. In the room, we get to know about the character of the individual and the bonds we build run deep... but the soul of a man is something only truly known by God.

We remember the Rob we all knew - a fun loving, caring gentleman who proudly wore the Cowboy jersey and we are proud to have him.

OBITUARY as posted by the Delta Optimist

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Robert Brian Swenson of Ladner, BC, on March 17, 2024.

Born July 20, 1964, Rob lived the entirety of his life in Ladner, BC, as part of the fourth generation to live on the Swenson farm. He was a man of many talents throughout his life, but his greatest passion was being a husband and a father.

Rob had a special gift of connecting with every person he met. He brought joy to everyone around him by simply being himself. Rob always prioritized God and family, devoting his life to his faith and ensuring his loved ones had the best future possible. He was a constant source of laughter, making life brighter and more fun for all. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. His love for his wife and children was immeasurable. He was a man who sought out the truth and always wanted to better himself. Rob excelled in sports, especially hockey, lacrosse, and skiing. He enjoyed hobbies such as boating, fishing, and engaging in many projects with his beloved wife. He enjoyed countless trips to the family cabin on Pender Island, where many beautiful memories were made. Rob's passion for music and talent for bringing people together created many cherished memories. He positively influenced many lives, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

He is survived by his spouse, Raeanne; daughters Alyssa (Clayton) and Cassidy; brother Gordon; and sisters Burnie (Ron), Cindy and Kathy (Ron). Rob is joined in Heaven by his late father, Don; mother Pat; and brother Arthur (Cindy)

A memorial service was held on June 15, 2024, at 1:00pm at Tsawwassen Alliance Church.