Obituary of Norman (Norm) Kenneth McDowell

June 12, 1939 – Lacombe, Alberta

March 9, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Norman (Norm) McDowell of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the age of 84 years after a very brief battle with cancer.

Norm was born in Lacombe, AB, on June 12, 1939. He later moved to Calgary, AB, where he began working at the Alberta Wheat Pool. It was there that he met the love of his life, Tara. In 1965, Norm and Tara were married. Shortly after, they bought the home they would spend over 50 years in, and then adopted their two children, Bradley and Shannon.

Norm continued his career with the Wheat Pool and obtained his Chartered Management Accountant designation. After retiring early from the Wheat Pool, he moved to H&R Block, where he stayed until the end of his career.

Norm enjoyed gardening with his beloved Tara. They spent many spring and summer days delighting in sharing their garden and yard with family and friends, hosting family barbecues and organizing stampede breakfasts for several years. Norm was delighted to continue gardening with the gardening club at Lake Bonavista Village Retirement Residence, where he made many new friends and enjoyed various activities, including bingo, happy hours, and men’s lunches.

Norm and Tara also fell in love with cruising and embarked on several cruises together, occasionally with friends and sometimes just the two of them. Their most memorable vacation was when he and Tara took their entire family on a cruise to Alaska in celebration of their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Norm is survived by his son, Brad (Siobhan), his daughter, Shannon, and his granddaughters, Caitlyn and Kieran. He is also survived by his sister Marion (Len) Morgan, sisters-in-law, Verna McDowell and Kerry (Jim) Rankin; as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and numerous friends.

Norman was predeceased by his wife, Tara, and his brother, Ron (Verna) McDowell.

Funeral Services will be held at First Alliance Church in the Harvest Room, (12345 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB) on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the First Alliance Church Atrium.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200 – 325 Manning Rd. N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 Telephone: (403) 205-3966, email donorservices@cancer.ab.ca, or at https://cancer.ca/en/.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Norm’s family here.

In living memory of Norman McDowell, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.