Norman Babcock

Norm had many pets throughout the years from dogs to ducks to horses and he was kind to and loved them all. He and his wife Jean especially loved their boxers Caddy and Queen Bee who they trained extensively and took to many shows and competitions.

Norm was always puttering in the shop building or fixing something. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t figure out how to build. He designed crane platforms and complicated dance props and he once cut a crane completely in half, extended it and rebuilt it. He spent many hours passing on his knowledge to others including his son Grant.

As a young man Norm was an accomplished stock car driver and was so handsome and fit many people nicknamed him Clark Gable.

Norm’s favourite food was dessert – any kind of dessert; a boston crème donut, a slice of his wife’s lemon meringue pie, a piece of cake. If it was sweet Norm liked it – but he never took sugar in his coffee. Norm didn’t have one favourite food he loved all food and he especially loved a good Newfie Jiggs dinner (corned beef, cabbage and vegetables). His last meal was a Jiggs dinner cooked by his daughter Nancy.

Norm tried his hands at a few things before he settled in to his lifelong career. He owned an Esso gas station and he operated heavy equipment before finding his true passion as a crane operator. Norm operated cranes for many companies before starting his own business that he built for several years before passing it on to his son, Grant. Norm continued to help Grant in many ways over the years by continuing to operate until he was 80 and after he stopped operating he was always happy to go look at a jobsite or pick up parts.

Norm is best known for being a hard working man who could always be counted on – by family, friends, colleagues and strangers. He always had a positive attitude and a kind word for everyone he met.

He loved to dance. He danced at parties and weddings and he and his wife could really cut a rug on the floor. He also loved dancing with his daughter, Nancy, on stage as a dancing Dad.

He was an amazing prop builder for his daughter Nancy at her dance studio and took great pleasure in hauling props to gala and dance competitions for many years. He was always there to give a hug and congratulate the dancers for a job well done and there wasn’t a face he couldn’t put a smile on at the studio.

3 words: father, husband, friend. Loyal, positive, kind.

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.Babcock, Norman, 91, husband of Barbara Jean (Hart) of Sharon, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Born in Shearstown, Nfld on August 10, 1925 he was the son of the late Eliza Glencoe (Glennie) Snow Badcock.

As a young man Norm made his way from Shearstown, Newfoundland to Ontario to pursue his dreams. Norm loved his work as a mobile crane operator and continued to operate until his 80th year. He was admired for his skill, work ethic and his excellent ability to mentor his many apprentices. Norm had several hobbies over the years including stock car racing, physical fitness, building dance props for his daughter and helping his son with his crane business. There wasn’t anything Norm couldn’t do from building his own home from the ground up, rebuilding a crane or designing a new and better way of doing something. His friendly smile and positive attitude will be missed by all who knew him.

Norm is survived by his loving wife Jean, daughter Nancy (Michael) Dinner and their children Taylor Dinner and Brandon(Lauren) Chappell and great grand-daughter Brynlee, son D. Grant (Candis) and their children Cole and Lisa. He is also survived by his brother Don(Inez) and his sisters Jane (Clayton) Mercer and Sue Pretty.

Visitation will be held at Thompson Funeral Home 530 Industrial Parkway S., Aurora on Sunday November 13, 2016 from 2-6pm. Donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated by the family.