Bob Loken was a beloved deputy who has left an indelible mark on both man and man’s best friend.

It’s been a tough year for all of us but for Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy Bob Loken, it’s been extra hard as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last fall.

By his side, every step of the way was deputy Bob Loken, a master trainer for the Oakland County Sheriff’s K-9 unit. READ: K-9 community rallies behind boy battling cancer“If we could, we’d take that cancer out of him and put it in us in a heartbeat -- you know,” Loken said last year. The community he has served is rallying about Bob Loken’s family too. Friends and colleagues have organized Loken Strong, a Facebook page, website and GoFundMe offering ways to support the Loken family financially and emotionally. The Loken family is grateful.