Norris Gilbert Will was born September 30, 1945 in Tisdale, Saskatchewan to Laurence and Ina Will. He attended school in New Osgoode until grade 9, and then Tisdale until graduation in 1964. Graduation opened the door on the maze of life through which Norris walked through whole heartedly. Norris attended the University of Saskatchewan for 1 year, but being enclosed inside was not for Norris. In later years Norris would say, “There’s nothing about the city that a country boy named Willie should know.”
Norris was gifted with many talents and always gave the best of himself. In 1964 – 65 Norris began playing in a local orchestra and in 1966 headed for the ”Big Times” to Toronto with a pretty good growth of hair (long hair was an essential requirement for rock bands) and $400.00 to find a modern rock band to play in. He found a band to play in and also found employment at Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital working on a psychiatric ward. Norris was a truly gifted musician and bass guitar player, but the pull of the beauty of the earth and freshly tilled soil always called him back to the farm. Farming was what he knew and loved, where his roots were planted – he was simply born to be a farmer. He never wanted to retire.
Norris was an avid Boston Bruin fan as anyone who knew him was vividly made aware of!! Many debates and trying to convert others to his team always ensued. Norris’s persuasive use of words was not just limited to conversations; he was an incredibly gifted writer. He made words come to life on a page – he could take an idea and morph it into an astonishing story.
Norris was truly content with himself and life. He leaves behind a space in our world that can never be filled but also leaves behind love and light in each of us.
Norris was predeceased by his son Ashley Will, parents Laurence and Ina Will, and in-laws Dudley and Cecilia Neighbours.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Wendy, whom he loved and laughed with for 45 years, his beautiful daughter Rachelle, his awesome son-in-law Lee van Ringen (affectionately known as “Ringer”) and his amazing grandchildren Cole and Lauren van Ringen, who were his everything. “We don’t say Good-bye.”