Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that the family of David Norman announce his passing on April 27, 2022 at the age of 69 after a year long battle with cancer.
Dave was born April 1, 1953 in Rosetown, SK to George and Rose (nee Krywenky) Norman. He spent his first few years living in Rosetown before moving to the farm near Herschel. He helped do the farming from an early age and also raised cows, pigs and even a goat. He attended school in Herschel from grades 1 through 8 and the grades 9 through 12 in Rosetown graduating Grade 12 in 1971.
David attended SIAST in Saskatoon and received his inter-provincial Journeyman ticket as a mechanic in 1975. He worked at Regal Motors and Epp’s before starting his career with Department of Highways where he retired after 35 years of service in July of 2010.
Both David’s parents were very musical and David learned to play the guitar and sing at an early age. One summer day while working on the farm for Eric and Jean Wilson of Herschel it started to rain. Jean asked David if he wanted to listen to some records and laid out a few for him to look at. There were three records, Elvis he had heard of, Dean Martin he had heard of but who was this Johnny Cash guy. He put on the Johnny Cash record and he was hooked for life.
It was while Dave was performing some of his Johnny Cash music that he met his high school sweetheart, Debbie. He often told people that “I chased her until she caught me”. She became the June to his Johnny and they were married on February 5, 1972. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2022. They were blessed with 2 children, Sarah born in 1975 and Ryan in 1977.
David’s greatest passion in life was always his music. It wasn’t long after Dave and Debbie were married that the band Midnite Special was born. The band played for many events over the next 18 years. Midnite Special was honoured to have a song on “Saskatchewan Lady” a record produced for Rosetown’s 75th birthday. In 1988 the Rosetown Car Wash and Laundromat were purchased and it became obvious that there was only time for one or the other and so David hung up his guitar. He did stay involved in other ways volunteering for Jamboree days, organizing and performing for many of the very successful Grandstand shows for more than 10 years. He also taught guitar lessons for a number of years.
In 2003 for his 50 birthday David’s family got together and bought him a high-end acoustic guitar as a kick in the butt to start performing again. In 2007 David decided that he was going to dust off his Johnny Cash songs and Cashback (A Tribute to Johnny Cash) was born. Over the next 12 years they performed for over 600 shows all over Saskatchewan and into Alberta and Manitoba but there was also always time made to perform for many Long-Term Care facilities throughout the province as well, especially at the Rosetown Centennial Lodge and later the Rose Villa. David got great enjoyment entertaining and visiting with the many residents.
David was very proud of the Sarah and Ryan and all their accomplishments and was thrilled (but always claimed he was too young to be a grandpa) when his first grandchild was born in 1998. There would be 7 more grandchildren added to the family over the next 16 years. He was very proud of each and everyone of them. He lovingly sang “You Are My Sunshine” to them many times over the years.
He is survived by is wife Debbie (nee Frerichs), his daughter Sarah (Shawn) Bourgeois (Lafleche), grandsons Carter, Luc and Grant, son Ryan (Carla) Norman (Aberdeen), granddaughters Summer, Grace, Julia and grandsons Tyler and Joshua. He is also survived by his 3 brothers Dwight (Hinton), Doug (Medicine Hat) and Delbert (Vancouver). He was predeceased by his parents George and Rose (Krywenky) Norman.
The family would like to thank Dr. Dan for supporting the family to have David at home to be cared for until his passing as well as the Home Care nurses and aides that helped tirelessly to ensure that David’s needs were met and he was kept comfortable so his final wish could be honored. We are forever grateful.
A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Dave may be made to the Alex Ositis Foundation, P.O. Box 1251, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of David Raymond NORMAN April 1 1953 April 27 2022 (age 69)..
Death notice for the town of: Rosetown, Province: Saskatchewan