Obituary of Norman Cornelson

CORNELSON – Norman Richard of Herbert, Sask passed away suddenly on June 2, 2011 at the age of 83 years. He was born on October 25, 1927 at his parent’s homestead in the Beaver Flat area. He received his education at the Funk and Roland Schools. After leaving school he held numerous jobs including hauling water in the oil patch, working in the coal mine, farming sugar beets, Sask Power line construction, and later dismantling railway tracks and bridges. He learned early in life that rodeo was his passion. On Sunday afternoons while their parents were away visiting, he and his brothers would round up the milk cows and ride them. Some of them bucked pretty good, but didn’t give much milk on those days! He began working for stock contractor Jerry Myers at the Moose Jaw Pro Rodeo in 1946. Later he also worked for stock contractors Don & Brenda Peterson. He began competing in rodeo in 1947 – first the Cow Riding event and shortly after that he also started riding Bareback horses and entering the Wild Horse Race event in the Pro Circuit. He was a founder of the Elm Grove Rodeo at Gouldtown which ran from 1965 to 1986. The Herbert Stampede committee was formed in 1987 and he was an active member until his retirement in 2007. In 2000 Norman was nominated to receive the Gordon Fech Memorial Buckle which is awarded annually by the Herbert Stampede committee. In November 2006 he was honored with the Working Cowboy Award at the Canadian Western Agribition. He met Lena Funk in 1953 and they were married on May 23, 1954. They spent their first years together living in Success, Main Centre, Herbert, and Gouldtown. In August 1959 they purchased his parent’s farm where they farmed and raised cattle. Neighbours would often come to get mechanical work or welding done as he was very handy in the small shop he had in the yard. They lived on the family farm until moving to Herbert in 2007. He still continued to spend many hours at the family farm – tinkering in his garage, checking the cattle, or just spending time with his cats. He missed his ‘home’ and often threatened to “move back to the farm”. Norman is survived by his wife Lena of 57 years of Herbert, 5 children – Brian, Corinne (Randal) Brown, Barry (Laura), Larry, Terry (Beata); 8 grandchildren – David (Aimee) Lemay, Evan (Shannon) Johnston, Levi Speir, Boone Cornelson, Kennedy Cornelson, Colt, Beau, and Shane Cornelson; and 3 great grandchildren – Allan, Athena, and Alessandra Lemay; brothers and sisters – Betty (Abe) Dyck, Ernie (Olga), Harry (Leona), Jake (Betty), Wes (Tina), Dora (Gary) Gould, and Loreen (Dave) Seymour; brothers and sisters-in-law – Marie Funk, Aron Funk, Sarah Dueck, Tina (Wes) Cornelson, Ben Petkau, Jake (Jeanette) Funk, Marie (Henry) Funk, and Eva (Elmer) Dueck. He is predeceased by a brother David in 1942, nephew Wayne Dueck, parents Jacob & Justina Cornelson, parents-in-law Jacob & Helena Funk, brother-in-law Frank Dueck, sister-in-law Muriel Funk, nephew Greg Funk, brother-in-law Henry Funk, and sister-in-law Anne Petkau. A funeral service was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. from Living Faith Justina Cornelson, parents-in-law Jacob & Helena Funk, brother-in-law Frank Dueck, sister-Fellowship Church with Donavon Epp officiating. The pianist was Diane Peters and the ushers were Archie Gannon and Harry Friesen. A tribute was given by Dora Gould and Loreen Seymour and special music was sung by Pete and Leona Braun. The pallbearers were: David Lemay, Byron Cornelson, Evan Johnston, Brad Cornelson, Levi Speir and Trevor Doerksen. The interment took place at Gouldtown Cemetery, Gouldtown, SK. Memorial Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation in memory of Norman. For further information or to sign the family book of condolences, visit our website at www.parksidefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Parkside Memorial Funeral Home.