BOON,Norvan James
December 5, 1922 - July 9, 2011
As we lay our dear Dad and Grampa to rest, we want to celebrate his life and the love he bestowed upon all those who know him. Dad was born and grew up in the Springwater area (Northwest of Delia) and took over the family farm when he was 17, where he farmed until his retirement in 2002. He married the love of his life, Alice Brewitt, in 1948 and together they raised six children. Dad had many loves, but he was happiest when surrounded by family and he found great joy in watching them all grow. He summed it up best at his last Father’s Day gathering when he said, “I got to see them all!!” Dad’s love of others was evident with his kindness and generosity, seeing the best in people and always putting others ahead of himself. He enjoyed giving to others, whether it was making a long trip to Cold Lake for a half-ton load of fresh fish and delivering it to the community, or making sure everyone always had a pail of honey, some fresh eggs or a country grown chicken. He loved visiting and Mom often needed to set an extra plate at the dinner table. He had a great sense of humour and loved to share it with everyone. Dad loved the outdoors – he was a farmer to the core. Rarely would you find him indoors unless it had rained for 5 days straight or it was the dreaded “income tax time”. We remember all those trips out to the pasture in the back of the pick-up truck checking the cattle, fences or to see how full the sloughs were. After the farming was finished in the fall (and even sometimes when it was not), hunting was next on his list. Come fall, hunting far outweighed everything else. Out came the maps, the tags, and the planning began. Many times his hunting buddies enjoyed Mom’s homemade raisin pie after a good days hunt. From those hunting trips grew stories that only our dear Dad could tell!! Cutting our Christmas trees was another adventure that we looked forward to as kids. It always amazed us as Dad carried out, what seemed like, one tired kid on each arm while pulling several trees behind through the deep snow and up the river bank. He was always proud when he arrived home and could display the trees in the snow bank – of course, always with a couple extra just in case someone else might need one.Dad and Grampa, you have loved us and taught us so much. The world is a much better place because of you. Dad is survived by his six children: Donna Boon (Karen Lunden), Drumheller, Wendy (Richard) Ramsay, Rimbey, Glenna (Stan) McNeill, Empress, Marilyn (Jens) Lind Crossfield, Kevin Boon (Karen) Kamloops, Lorilee Boon, Drumheller; daughter-in-law Joyce Boon, Drumheller; 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; Alice’s family, Freda Brewitt and Don and Diana Brewitt; three sisters: Kay Thompson, Dorothy McPhail and Elaine Moonen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Dad was predeceased by his wife, Alice, in 1990; his sister Thelma Wood; and six brothers-in-law. It was Dad’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his honour to the Children’s Make a Wish Foundation – Canada. Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta Bay #5, 2308-24 Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2T 5H8. The Funeral Service for Norvan will be held on Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. from the Delia Community Hall.
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