NORMAN REGINALD VAN TASSEL
December 18, 1934 - December 3, 2007
Suddenly but peacefully, Norman passed away at the Health Sciences Centre on Monday, December 3, 2007. Norman was predeceased by his father Howard Burton and mother Robena Blanche Van Tassel (Rice); his brothers, Howard Jr., Clyde and James; sisters, Florence and Joan of Digby, NS. Norm is survived by his wife Lynne (Lena); son Stephen (Carol) of British Columbia; his daughter Lori Ann (Dugald) Carter; his grandchildren, Amy, Andrew and Vance Carter; brothers, Wayne (Minnie) of Ontario, Neil (Florence) of British Columbia; sisters, Pauline and Sharon of Nova Scotia, Donna (Bob) Kranstz of Ontario; brother-in-law Bill (Hazel) Rudishyn, sister-in-law Anne (Marion) Tylipski; Edna (wife of Clyde) of Manitoba and Lucille (wife of James) of British Columbia; nephews, nieces, family, friends in Canada and the United States.
Norm, born in Digby, NS attended school at Digby Rural High. He may be remembered in Digby as a young man playing hockey with his cousins and the other Van Tassels out on the pond or in the Digby Rink in the early 1950s.
He moved to Toronto in 1952, joined the Canadian Army and served in the regular forces until 1962. He had overseas duty in Korea with the 2 QOR of C and numerous postings in Canada as an instructor and later as Clerk Administrator.
Upon his release from the Canadian Army, he was employed as a Correctional Officer at Headingley Correctional Institute then as a fireman at the Atomic Energy of Canada in Pinawa, MB.
Later he returned to Corrections to work with juveniles at Vaughan St. Detention Home and Manitoba Youth Centre. In 1974, Norm founded and Directed Winchester House (first licensed Group Home for problem children in Manitoba) and Van Tassel Homes of Winnipeg which included a Wilderness Camp at Wallace Lake. He then finished his working career as a Real Estate Agent for NRS Block Bros.
Many summers were spent at his cottage at Wallace Lake where he, his wife and family enjoyed time with their friends. Norm's favourite pastime was fishing with his partner Ginger. In 2002 he sold the cottage and purchased an RV with dreams of traveling. There was never a dull moment in Norm's life.
He was a past member of the Board of Directors for the Last Post Fund, a member of No. 283 ANAVETS Association for 25 years, The RCL BR No. 4 for 21 years, Past President of KVA Unit No. 17, a founding member and Past President of the LGen RR Crabbe Chapter of the CAVUNP, founding member of the Sgt Tommy Prince MM Memorial Unit 76 of KVA and a member of the QOR Association of Canada.
Norm took part in many fund raising activities and memorials and will be remembered by many for his volunteer work. Norm, with the never ending support from Lynne, his devoted wife of 42 years, was granted many certificates and awards for his work: The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, Queens Golden Jubilee Medal, service medals from Korea. Norm was the only Manitoban awarded with The Distinguished Silver Star for his work with the Korea Veterans of Canada. Norm will be fondly remembered by all his family and friends that supported him over the years. He will be especially missed by his three grandchildren and by Tara, his early morning walking partner.
Memorial service will be held on Monday, December 10, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Assiniboia Christian Centre, 3390 Portage Ave. with interment to follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Ave. Pallbearers were selected from different organizations with the assistance of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 4. The family would like to thank Dr. Lipschitz and Dr. Atwal for all their care, compassion and support. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. MAY HE REST IN PEACE We will meet again, another time, on another parade square! Arrangements entrusted to: Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 885-9715
Published by the Korean War Commemoration Council of Canada
Dedicated to the sacrifice and indomitable spirit of Veterans of the Korean War
December 5, 2007
The Queen’s Own loses a proud old soldier
Norm Van Tassel loses bout with cancer after spending long, rewarding life in service to Canada and to his Veteran comrades
We have received word from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that Veterans activist Norm Van Tassel died in the hospital on Monday afternoon, December 3.
Norm was undergoing emergency surgery performed after he was operated on for cancer of the pancreas in the morning.
The proud old soldier wrote to Korea Vet News a few weeks ago regarding the “Turn Toward Busan” November 11 Memorial Day service. He had arranged for a Winnipeg radio station to read verbatim a long message of commendation for all Korean War Veterans all over the world that had been prepared by Kim Jung-bok, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
At the end of his message, Norm confided that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and would have to undergo surgery. It was almost as a post script.
Norm kept up his contacts with Veterans in many activities right through until he went into the Winnipeg hospital.
A few weeks before his death Norm and his wife Lynne visited sick and ailing veterans in the Poseidon Care Centre in Winnipeg. Here is what Norm wrote at that time:
One of the sad things that we have not been doing is ensuring we visit those that are hospitalized and are in care. I have attached a few pictures of a couple of our Korea Veterans who have had serious strokes over the past couple of years and are starving to hear from their old comrades.
The following pictures are of Roy McIvor and Sidney Church. Roy is a former PPCLI and Sidney an RCHA. We have made frequent visits to the care centre to visit Roy and we found out that Sidney was also in care in the same centre. We had a nice visit with them at the Poseidon Care Centre in Winnipeg where they are getting first class treatment and also have gotten support from DVA re pensions, etc., in particular Roy and we thank them. Both Roy and Sidney were happy to see us and we promised them that we would be back very soon.
Here are some highlights from that devoted Rifleman’s life:
Born, Digby, Nova Scotia, December 18, 1934.
Left school at age 16 to become an Atlantic fisherman.
Left Digby in 1952 and joined the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Rifle Regiment in Toronto, Ontario.
Sailed for Korea in 1954 as a wireless operator with the advance party for the battalion which had been rebadged as the 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.
Served in the Canadian Army for 10 years.
Norm worked in corrections following his discharge, including a period devoted to youth corrections.
He subsequently founded and operated three group homes for troubled youths in Winnipeg and a wilderness boys camp.
As a member of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association he carried the torch for fellow Veterans always.
He served as president of Unit 17 of KVA Canada for three terms and later founded the Sergeant Tommy Prince Memorial Unit 46 of the KVA in Winnipeg. Mister Van Tassel also was founder and president of the LGen R.R. Crabbe Chapter of CAVUNP in Winnipeg. He also helped to found CAVUNP units in Brandon and Regina in Manitoba and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Among his many notable achievements was his unswerving dedication to honour those who fell in the Korean War and on post armistice duty in Korea. He chaired a committee that successfully lobbied to have lakes and other geographic features in Manitoba named after the 37 Manitobans who lost their lives in Korea and 17 members of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery who were killed enroute to the Fort Lewis debarkation station in November, 1950.
He tirelessly pursued Veterans causes and kept alive the memory of all who served and of Canada’s obligation never to forget them.
His accomplishments could fill pages and still not tell the story.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Star by the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, that organization’s highest honour. He also was presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his outstanding service to Canadian Veterans organizations and causes. He received the Veterans Affairs Minister’s Commendation Award for the same high service.
Here is how soldier poet, Billy Willbond, MSM chose to remember him:
I write this through tears as he was an old and very good friend! Norm did so much for the Veterans’ Movement in Canada and he was a tower of strength through the long years we fought for the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the placing of the names of our fallen in the 7th book of remembrance. In Manitoba he was the mover and shaker to get recognition for Canadian veterans from the Korean War to Missions served in by Canadian Peacekeepers. He will be sorely missed by veterans all across this Great Nation! At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember Norm – He will be sorely missed, indeed.
Billy
A Farewell to Norm
By Billy Willbond
I just heard some very un-nerving sad sad news this morn
About the passing of a good friend whom we all know as Norm
Norm was a veterans’ advocate – he lived in the Peg
For veterans’ rights and recognitions from Ottawa he’d beg!
He named peacekeeper lakes, built monuments and more
He advocated for recognition for the forgotten Korean War
Norm stepped on some toes but he did make his mark
He made sure Ottawa’s bureaucrats didn’t keep us in the dark
Norm’s up on that cloud square now he has fought the good battle
Don’t rest easy in Ottawa- don’t think there’ won’t be more hassle
Norm’s friends will continue to shake the bureaucratic rattle
Farewell my old friend, Rifleman Norman Van Tassel
William Willbond Canadian Soldier Poet
Saanichton BC 0900 hrs Tuesday 04 December 2007
RIP buddy
We will remember
Norm Van Tassel