Bob was known for his sense of humor, quick with and one liners along with his ability to make people laugh. He was born & raised in Calgary. After graduating from Crescent Heights high school, he went south to Utah to attend Brigham Young University on a baseball scholarship. Upon his home coming, Bob’s career path took him into the field of Oil & Gas. From his college days and in this business, he made close, lifelong friends that he continued to have strong connections with to this day.
He married the love of his life, Linda, in Portage la Prairie, MB, and in marrying her, converted to Catholicism. He used to say ”I was raised an Anglican, attended a Mormon university and married a Catholic, I now have all my bases covered !”
He loved the game of golf, playing with Linda and with his in laws Charlie & Ruth joining them on many golfing trips. When it became difficult to book a tee time on courses around Calgary, he and Linda joined Cottonwood Golf & Country Club before it opened in 1990. He served on the Men’s executive for several years and golf, friends and socializing was a big part of his life until he was no longer able to golf; but the friendships made remained close.
He was a loyal Calgary Stampeders fan, attending all their home games; and a loyal Toronto Blue Jays fan watching all their televised games. He loved sports! In fact, there wasn’t a sport he wasn’t interested in (daily reading the sports pages)- except perhaps for soccer which he grew to learn to enjoy as his adored granddaughters, Alaira & Teagan, and daughter, Kristi, loved and played this sport ! He became a faithful cheering spectator.
His “most favourite grandson “Gage and he loved to play golf & baseball on the xbox and competed with each other as to who could make the longest word in scrabble .
His son-in-law, Lorne & he would vie for the barbecue in early years; and in later years he enjoyed the barbecue & smoker food that Lorne prepared and served.
Daily facetime chats with brother Brian; sometimes joined by Brian’s wife, JoAnne ( living in California) along with Linda, were a highlight of his day.
He developed a passion for chuckwagon racing, which led him to become a volunteer for the World Professional Chuck Wagon Association, serving on the board of directors for many years and later as VP of the association. Each summer, Bob travelled Alberta, following & working hard at every stop of the tour. The Chuck Wagon group cruise along the Mexican Rivera was one of those highlights even managing to go parasailing in Puerta Vallarta days after getting out of a foot cast prior the cruise! He so enjoyed the friendships made with the drivers, board members and other racing volunteers, some continuing long after he resigned as a volunteer, meeting up for lunches and reminiscing about “those days”.
In these past few years, as a passionate Albertan, Bob became involved in AB politics and would be engaged in many debates/discussions making lifelong friends along the way.
Bob will be greatly missed too by his wife, Linda; goddaughter, Lisa Reitzel (Mike), children, Taylor & Evangeline; nieces, Kate Al-Azzawi (Karim), children, Zachery (Jess) their children, Tatum & Beau and Paige; Heather Flowers (Matt), children, Abigail & Ethan; Jennifer Johnson (Bob), children, Bobby & Julia; nephew, John Ellis (Daniela), children, Vincent & Joseph; along with many other close friends, neighbours and family all of whom were such a support to Bob and Linda in the last several years. He has gone to join dearly loved family previously deceased including his Mom, Pat, and Dad, Bud; Uncles George, Jim and James.
The family would like to send a special thank you to Dr Tsai Willis and the pulmonary team at RGH; dermatologist Dr M Kalisiak; Tom Baker’s surgical oncologist Dr G McKinnon; medical oncologist Dr Tina Cheng & radiology oncologists Dr. S. Faruqi & Dr. J Stosky; Dr. Matt Hall and Dr. Frank Cunningham, Janny, JoAnne and Tanis and all the staff at the Bonaventure Medical Clinic; and his home care aids Amy & Joyce.
Bob and Linda could not have managed without the guidance and care of the Palliative Care Team, Dr Foster, Terri Kerr and allied staff. The family is also especially thankful for the outstanding care he received from Dr T Murynka and staff at Southwood Hospice.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or Alberta Lung Association.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 1:00pm at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Robert James Norton July 1st 2021..
Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services
Death notice for the town of: Airdrie, Province: Alberta