Donald Edward Joseph Normandeau
February 5, 1943 – October 28, 2022
Dad was born on February 5, 1943 in Montreal, Quebec to George and Violet Normandeau. When Donald was very small the family moved to Viscount, Saskatchewan. Donald grew up in the Viscount area and attended grade school there while also working on the family farm. Finishing high school, Donald began working on the construction of a new potash mine outside of Guernsey, Saskatchewan; Alwinsal Potash, now Nutrien.
In 1967, Donald married Judith Duke from the Plunkett area and they purchased a home in Viscount. Shortly after, Don enrolled in heavy duty mechanics at Kelsey Technical School, Saskatoon. Don completed his apprenticeship while working at Alwinsal Potash and soon completed his journeyman’s certification. Dad worked at the potash mine his entire working career, retiring at age 57.
Donald and his family lived in Viscount for many years where he actively served the community by teaching mechanics in 4-H and coaching baseball. Donald was passionate about hunting, a love he passed on to his children.
Don and Judy moved several times after their children got older. They moved to Lanigan, Saskatchewan for a few years, then bought a heritage home on a farm outside of Guernsey. They completely rebuilt that house, then purchased the farm right across the road which had been a 4-H tree farm many years ago. Don and Judy started to raise Dorper sheep, importing them from South Africa, some of the first in North America! Soon they added Katahdin sheep to the operation which quickly grew to several hundred animals. Shortly after moving, mom surprised dad with a special birthday present and took him to a farm yard with many border collie puppies running around. Judy told Don to find the one he liked. Don picked and took home what would immediately become his best buddy Snoop. Snoop and Dad were inseparable for many years, they went everywhere and did everything together. Snoop rode in the tractor and went on road trips to Saskatoon, Dad and Snoop often ate cheeseburgers together! Dad once took mom somewhere and when Snoop jumped in the front seat of the truck, dad smiled and said to mom “well, I guess you better jump in the back seat.”
A while after, Don and Judy decided they needed a new challenge so purchased a farm near Jansen. They moved the sheep and, having purchased a couple quarters of land, began farming. As they undertook another house renovation (much to mom’s dismay, dad was always building or fixing, he loved to do it!), they soon realized the need to downsize the sheep operation.
A few years ago, Don and Judy sold the Jansen farm and moved back to Lanigan. They became close with many friends that dad had known through work at the mine and enjoyed many visits with them. Their daughter Elan and family live in Lanigan so they visit often; Don and Judy also enjoyed traveling to Alberta to visit with the family of their oldest son Bradley, as well as California where their youngest son Jarrod and his wife live.
Grandchildren were so incredibly important to Don and Judy, and even though there was sometimes distance between them, they went out of their way to be at special events. In the last 4 years, Don and Judy became Great Grand Parents to two beautiful little ones!
Donald was predeceased by his parents George Normandeau (born Viscount, SK) and Violet Normandeau (born Young, SK) (nee McMaster) and lastly, his best buddy Snoop.
Donald leaves behind his wife Judith Normandeau (Duke) of 55 years; three children Bradley (Jodi) Normandeau of Stony Plain, AB, Elan (Rick) Suchy of Lanigan, SK and Jarrod (Sarah) Normandeau of Huntington Beach, California; nine grandchildren Zacharias Normandeau, Erin (Evan) Normandeau, Morgyn (Andrew) Greenidge, Ewen Normandeau, Logan Hayden, Tyler Ramsay, Tristen Normandeau, Ryan Suchy and Grayson Suchy; two Great Grandchildren Alexandrea and Myles Greenidge; and three siblings Shirley Barrett of Saskatoon, SK, Mavis (Eugene) Prystupa of Winnipeg, MB and Lyla Adnam of Regina, SK.
A Celebration of Life for Donald will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in Donald’s memory may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan or the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622