Norman Bruce Johnson

He is predeceased by his parents Tom and Hanna Johnson, sisters Lila and Joan and brothers Roy and Jerry. 

Survived by his wife Mona, children Maureen (Fred), Sherry, David (Koosje), Kathy (Phil) and Kevin (Shannon).  He is also survived by his sister Linda (Keith).  He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Norman was born in Glacier Bay on a barge in Knight Inlet to Tom and Hanna Johnson on June 12, 1933.  He spent the first few years of his life living on a float house with his brothers Roy and Jerry and sisters Lila and Joan.  This was an adventurous life on the BC coast as they followed the work and the float house was towed from logging camp to logging camp.  His grandparents ran the logging camp on Minstrel Island and the whole family worked.   

The family moved to the flats in Burnaby in 1938 so that the kids could go to school.  They first lived in a converted chicken coop near Byrne Rd and the Fraser river. They quickly became part of a community where no one had a lot of money but they all knew each other, shared what they had and helped each other through hard times.  Their family was one of the first in the neighborhood to have a tv and everyone would come to watch it in the living room.  

Anyone who knows Norm, knew he had a gift of the gab.  He could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere and made many friends over the years.  Norm told many stories about living down on the flats in Burnaby, their adventures, swimming and fishing in the Fraser, the many chores, all the kids that lived down there and of course getting into lots of trouble. 

Norman graduated from Burnaby South in 1951 and thus ended his formal education.  However, he went on to learn so much about fishing, logging, trapping and knew the BC coast like the back of his hand.

Although he logged and trapped along the coast, his real love was fishing.  He got his first boat at 14, a hand-built skiff that was towed along behind his dad’s boat. His summers were spent up coast working and he loved it.  He thought he had the best job in the world as a commercial fisherman even though the work was hard and the days long.  He fished along the BC coast during the boom years of commercial fishing and his sons David and Kevin joined him first during summer holidays and then full time when they finished school.  Norm owned a few boats over the years including the Little Slope, the North Wind and the Pacific Girl. 

Norman and wife Mona moved to Parksville in 1970 and built their home on Morison Ave.  Each brought to the marriage one daughter.  Norm loved his family and encouraged his kids to get the most out of life and supported them in their pursuits.   He quickly became an active member of the Parksville community and pretty soon knew just about everyone in town.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and an active Shrine club member.  He really enjoyed participating in the many pancake breakfasts every summer and offering free fishing charters by donation to raise money for the Shriner’s Children’s hospital.    He was a founding member of the French Creek Harbour Authority and was on the auxiliary coast guard.  He also coached hockey when his sons were playing.  His upbringing on the coast and in Burnaby during the war years instilled in him the importance of family ties and helping each out no matter what.  This extended not only to his own family but to everyone in the community who were part of his life.  He had boundless energy and rarely sat still.  He was a good friend and a good neighbor and even into his 80s could be found helping out with tasks small and large; even falling trees for a neighbour at 83.     

After retiring from fishing, he and Mona bought a truck and camper and spent several summers travelling all over Canada with trips to Alaska and California.  They fished and camped with their friends Woody and Barb and met many people on their travels; this of course this gave Norm even more stories to tell. 

He loved being a grandfather and was lucky to have many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Norm lived a life without regrets and felt so fortunate to have been able to do so many things. 

A celebration of life will be held when we are able to gather in groups again. 

If you have stories to share about Norm, we invite you to share them here on this memorial page.  We would love to hear them.