Suddenly on July 16, 2021, Norman Bruce Sparrow passed away in the Tuxedo Villa Personal Care Home.

 

Norm is survived by his wife Linda and son Scott, mother-in-law Dorothy McMillin, sisters, Pat McCorriston and Linda Haug (Bob); aunt Bernice Sparrow; as well as nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by parents, Nora and Lewis (Bus) Sparrow; father-in-law Rod McMillin; and brother-in-law Dave McCorriston.

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Norm was born on September 22, 1946 in Winnipeg. He attended Rockwood School, River Heights and Grant Park High School where he played basketball and football. He joined the neighbourhood boys for hockey at Crescentwood Community Club. Norm sang with the Winnipeg Boys Choir a trait that carried on with the “shrimp night” sing a longs in Puerto Vallarta. He loved tinkering with clocks and radios as a young boy and later working on cars with his Dad. His pride and joy was his Austin Healey an amusing choice of vehicles for a 6ft 5 in man.

 

Norm spent his summers as a young boy in Souris with the Smith family farming where clearly the fertilizer had an effect on his growth as well as the crops, growing 6 inches one summer! He made a great friend Les Smith during these times and kept in touch with Les and his family until he passed.

 

Norm joined the Winnipeg Police Force at the age of 21 and was soon joined by his best friend Ross (Rocky) McCorriston and retired 26 years later this was a career Norm loved. He participated in the Jackson Mississippi International Police Combat Shoot he was a Master Class hand gun shooter. Following his retirement Norm became our “go to guy”, he could build or fix pretty much anything and was always there to help others with their projects.

 

Norms pride and joy was his wife Linda and son Scott, they travelled and enjoyed many summers in the backyard pool on Elm Street.  The Elm Street step parties were often in his yard well pretty much any party was in his house or yard. Memorable New Years parties of patrons marching down the street parading in and out of many houses  in -30 degree weather with bagpipes, pots and pans and drums celebrating

 

Norm suffered a number of health issues but in spite of them he managed to travel from coast to coast and up to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.  He would spend a good part of winter at Girasol in Puerto Vallarta where he met so many good and permanent friends who will all miss him, his laugh and yes his slapping of his leg.

 

The family would like to thank the staff at Tuxedo Villa with special thanks to staff on station 2.

 

In keeping with Norm’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Instead, Norm’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

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In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to a children’s charity of your choice.