Norman Randall Robins

Norman Robins

May 22/1958 to June 7/2026

Norman was the beloved husband of Auna (Walker)

Normans’s journey started in the RM of Daly as second son to Randall Robins and Windsor Hoyteniuk. He attended school in Rivers and later Brandon.  

Norman’s early adventures included custom combining in the US, CN Rail, W T Armstrong Construction, Ecusta Fibre, and the oil fields of Manitoba and Alberta. He was tired of being away from home though and returned to Brandon. At this time he met me and I became the true love of his life. We met at a Halloween party and Norman was dressed as the bug of the week. Anyone that knew him knows this couldn’t be more fitting as he loved nothing more than to be a mischievious prankster. We became inseparable for the next 44 years. His second true love was farming. We moved to his grandparents farm and took on repairing the old farm house. It wasn’t long until we had bottle fed calves, baby lambs, pigs, chicks and almost every other farm animal. We went from this small start and bought our first herd of Hereford cows and calves. Over the next several years this went to many more cows. At one time we had purebred Gelbvieh but slowly turned back to commercial cattle. We also ran a side line of feeder calves and even raised buffalo for a few years. Everyone that knew him will never forget the Mr. Fix it he was. He never threw anything away as you never knew when you may be able to rig something up and solve the problem.  

Norman was an avid hunter and fisherman. He looked forward to the annual deer hunt ritual of hunting, food and refreshments or any fishing excursion. He also had a love of animals and nature. I am sure he could tell you what any animal or fish was on the planet. He had special dogs over the years. Lady 1, Petee, Chubby, Ozzie, Blue and Lady 2 but non more special than his faithful Jack Russell Jack who he never went anywhere without. He also had Siamese cats who were near and dear. Cocoa, Oscar and the most recent Gizmo who has been his cancer support buddy who was always ready to curl up beside him and keep him company.

We made the decision to take up the hobby of camping in 2015 I didn’t know if this was something that he would like as farmers are hard to get out of the yard but being the social person he was he took to it like a duck to water. He loved to leave the farm on the weekend and hit the lake to relax and visit with friends and family and perhaps a few Norman special rum cocktails. We bought a lot at Crawford Lake in 2019 and how he loved that place. It was everything he had ever dreamed of and it was where he got to spend part of his last day

He experienced health issues in 2021 and fully retired. He finally got to do some of the yard puttering he had wanted to do for years. He even went on a trip to Nova Scotia. His wish had been to go back for another visit but unfortunately that was not to happen. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2025 and it made travel impossible.

Life is going to be very quiet without him in it. I will miss him calling me sweet heart. He was my Norman, my spider killer, lover and friend. I hope you finally are resting in painless peace.

He also leaves others that will miss him greatly. Brothers Darcy (Liz) Mason, Jessica and Jason(Bobbi) Jasper, Madison, Rhett and Jorja. Sister in law Susan, Niece Melissa (Mike), Nephew Robert. Special cousin Denise (Kevin), Aunt Olga, Mother in Law Idamae Sister in laws, Dawn (Steve) Alicia and Kendall, Vanessa(Dave), Madison(Rich), Tanner (Ivy), Amber (Jasmine (Forrest) and Sherris (Jack). He also leaves several great nieces and nephews. He has gone to join his grandparents, Mom and Dad, brother Laurence, father in law Alvin, brother in laws Bob and James, aunts and uncles as well as buddies Bob and Bill.

I would like to thank our health care team, NP Michelle Weighell and the entire team at Westman Cancer Care who provided much support through this final journey. Also thanks can never express my gratitude to our family, friends and neighbours with whose help and visits made it possible for us to stay on the farm. 

A graveside service will be held at Roseville Cemetery on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with refreshments to follow.

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