Obituary of Norman Clark

Obituary Norman ClarkNorm was born in Edmonton, to John & Esther Clark on November 15, 1929. He was the 8th child in a family of nine (4 brothers and 4 sisters).Norm started early in life to tease the girls and watch after those who couldn?t look out for themselves, he never like to see someone picking on someone who couldn?t lookout for themselves. One of Norm?s passions throughout his life was fishing. You could often find him and his dog, Marmaduke on the banks of the river. His strong work ethic started early in life. That is, when he wasn?t fishing. In 1936 ? 37, at age 7, Norm started delivering groceries for Pioneer Groceries after school on his CCM bicycle.In 1945 ? 47 Norm looked after the Rossdale Community rink. This was a one man show, ice maker, clearer, etc. Hockey, was a huge part of Norm?s life. He played hockey for around 70 odd years. 1947 ? 48 Norm played hockey for the Cloverdale Senior Hockey Team. In 1949 Norm started working for Lennox Industries. This is where he, in 1952, acquired his welder?s ticket. Welding was also a big part of who he was. He was creative and was keen to make things. He made board games, lawn games, a boat, trailers, rails, gates, fire grills, wind chimes. In 1951, at a Cloverdale Community Hall get together for teens, Norm and Vi first met. Vi told her friends she would have to get to know that guy, as he was reclining on some chairs on the other side of the room. Norm told his friends, that she was the one he was going to marry. Sure enough he did marry her, January 12, 1952 in Edmonton where they lived and had the first 3 of 5 children. Kim born 1953, Judy born 1954 & Rick born 1956. Norm and Vi are a couple that have been married for 55years and to the end you could feel and see the love they had for each other.They moved to Fort St. John in 1957, where Norm, his brother Laurie and brother in-law Ed started Derrick Machinery. His work time, where he made his mark on the north, went from Derrick to Curtis Hoover to Westgate Farms to Peace Land Power to North Eastern Welding and then back to Derrick Machinery where he worked until he finally really retired on his 70th Birthday. In 1961 there was a bad snow storm and Karen was born, then five years later in 1966 there were terrible snow drifts at the door and Dennis was born. Family and friends were priorities for Norm, which he showed all the time. Norm was a great outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, fishing with his sons, picnics at the river and camping with his family. Norm was known to wear long underwear year round, which protected the most beautiful snow white chicken legs. Norm loved to golf. In his retirement he golfed every day in golf season except Saturdays which was Vi?s day.Norm was a tough fellow. After losing all his fingers and part of his thumb on his left hand, in a work accident in 1995, he found a way to play hockey until November of 2006. Norm was then suspended for the rest of the 2006 season by the doctor and by a higher authority for the 2007 season. Norm played for 36 years in Fort St John and was the oldest player in the league. A friend commented that he was to the Oldtimer Hockey league in Fort St. John as Wayne Gretzky was to NHL hockey.Survived by his wife of 55 years Vi, children Kim (Sue), Judy (Matt), Rick, Karen (Larry) and Dennis. He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren; Crystal, Dean, Jules, Aaron, Myles, Kiri, Michael, Shamara & Stephen and 4 great grandchildren; Katelyn, Bailey, Cylee and Ayden as well as a sister (Isabel) and a brother (Ken).Funeral services were held on Thursday, September 6 from the Peace Lutheran Church. He was laid to rest in the North Pine Cemetery. If so desired expressions of sympathy can be made to the Fort St. John Palliative Care. Funeral services entrusted to the care of Hamre?s Funeral Chapel. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Norman Clark