Joseph "Norman" Giasson

The family of Norman Arthur Giasson are saddened to announce his passing on January 4, 2026, at the River Ridge Seniors Village in Medicine Hat, AB. Norman was 91 years old.

Born on March 18, 1934, at Shaunavon, SK, he was the youngest child born to Joseph H. and Rose D. Giasson. He grew up helping his parents with feeding and caring for the animals as well as working in the fields. Being a young child during the Dirty Thirties, he grew up aware of the hardship of living on the prairies. He had a great respect for livestock and prairie wildlife alike and loved to watch how animals behaved and coexisted. Like so many other prairie farmers, his family drove horse and buggy in the winter and a Ford Model T or Model A when the roads were passable. The family kept a horse to ride around the pastures. Norman’s interest in mechanics started at a very young age as he was intrigued by the way that his father would dis-assemble, repair and re-build the motor and transmission in their family’s automobiles.

Norman attended school at Dollard, SK. He would walk south from their farmyard to meet up with the rail line and then he could continue on foot to follow it directly into the town of Dollard. That was a big help to guide his way if it was a bit stormy or snowing out. Sometimes he would walk to school in the morning, and then his father would pick him up after school with the horse and buggy.

 As he grew up, he stayed connected to farming, but also branched out and started working on a seismic crew that provided him with experiences of working in ‘The Bush’ up north in locations that had never been worked in. He would often share memories of what it was like to live and work in the North. That work experience led to him finding employment in the oilfields across southern Saskatchewan.

In 1963, Norman married the love of his life, Sandra McDonald and together they raised their two daughters in Dollard. Norman continued to share his time between farming, working in the oilfield, and being involved with his children. Norman’s main career was working in the oil patch, with almost 40 years of experience mainly as an industrial mechanic in southwest Saskatchewan.   He enjoyed the challenges, learned so much and witnessed enormous change over his career.  Norman respected his co-workers, played hockey, curled and devoted many years to the volunteer fire department as a fireman and fire chief. He would make sure to find time for fishing, water skiing and camping with his young family and with the neighbors.

Norman retired from the oilfield in 1993, turning his focus to his hobbies that usually involved metal work and helping his neighbors with welding repairs of farm machinery.  He enjoyed fabricating pulleys, gears and other mechanical pieces on his machining tools in the shop. In 2015, he and Sandra moved from the Shaunavon area to fully retire in Medicine Hat, AB.

Norman is survived by his wife, Sandra; his daughter Janine (Randy) O’Neill and grandchildren Kyle (Jessica) O’Neill and Cianna (Jason) Smeby; his daughter Pauline (Alan) Stahl and grandchildren Nicole (Anthony) Joynt and Trevor (Kia) Stahl. He also has nine great-grandchildren to complete the family. Norman has numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his five siblings; Honora (Jack), Napoleon, Annette, Joseph and Marie; and by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

A come and go tea fellowship will be held on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, at 2 pm at Christ the King Parish Hall, Shaunavon, SK for all who wish to attend. The family wishes to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Norman’s caregivers over the past few years. From the care providers of Extended Family Services and the wonderful staff at the River Ridge Seniors Village to the doctors and medical staff in the clinics. Thank you so much to all!

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