Obituary of Norman Walter HAWKINS

It is with great sadness the family of Norman Walter Hawkins announce his passing on March 4th, 2013, at the age of 93 at the Assiniboia Union Hospital with his family by his side. Norman was born April 27, 1919, at Assiniboia, SK to Fredrick and Clara Hawkins. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Assiniboia and attended Hawley and Assiniboia Schools. When his parents passed away, Norman and Donald took on the responsibility of raising their five younger sisters while working for numerous local farmers. Norman, age 22, went to the Canadian Army from January 8th, 1942, to February 1st, 1946. He served active duty in United Kingdom and continental Europe as a gunner. After returning from the army he worked as a farm labourer for a few years and then went into construction. On November 15th, 1958, Norman married the love of his life, Marlene Roszell. He went on to work for Pal’s Construction and Bennett and White Construction. Then the children started to arrive, Kelvin (‘59), Cheryl (‘61), Eunice (‘63), and Glen (‘64). They made a move to Belle Plaine in 1966 as Norm worked at the Kalium Plant. They moved back to Assiniboia in 1970 where Norm found work at Assiniboia Hatchery and Jubilee and Silvercrest Farms. Then Curtis (‘70) and Darlene (‘73) arrived and their family was complete. In June 1976, he began working at Assiniboia Pioneer Lodge Complex as a caretaker until his retirement in 1984. Norman enjoyed watching all sports but his heart was hooked on hockey, curling, and football. He had many a good time with his family fishing at Thomson Lake and Willows and hunting in the Davyroyd District. There was nothing Norm liked better than a fresh fish meal. After his retirement, Norm enjoyed spending his days watering the lawn and tending to his flowers, taking broken things apart and putting them back together in working order, fixing on the old ’53 GMC, and running up to the ball diamond to catch the boys’ ball games. The joys of his life were his grand-children and great-grandchildren. A day never passed without one of them sharing a story or stealing a candy. They all knew where the stash was hidden. As his health started to fail him, friends and neighbours made their way over to the house to play games of crib, whist, and rummy and to reminisce about the good old days. He thoroughly enjoyed the many late nights of visiting and card playing, as well as his daily calls to Clem. Predeceased by his father and mother, Fredrick and Clara Hawkins, sisters Jessie King, Ruth Litcher, Agnes Williamson (Norman’s twin sister), and infant Alice Hawkins, and brother Donald, brothers-in-law Joe Williamson, Donald King, Alphonse Litcher, and Harvey Halsey. He leaves to mourn his wife Marlene of 54 years, and his six children Kelvin (Donna), Cheryl (Mark), Eunice (Blaine), Glen (Louise), Curtis (Laurie), and Darlene, 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, his sisters Doris Weaver and Esther Halsey of Brantford, Ontario as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., at Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapel, Assiniboia, SK, with Reverend Linda Tomlinson-Seebach officiant. The eulogy was shared by Clem Martina. Readers were Laurie Hawkins, Shana Hawkins and Sharilee Booth. Urn bearers were Norman's family. Special memories were shared by Laurie Hawkins. Interment took place at Mount Hope Cemetery, Assiniboia, SK. Memorial donations in memory Norman to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund, Box 791, Assiniboia, SK S0H 0B0, were greatly appreciated.