Lorne Clarence Brownell
April 16, 1935 - April 1, 2016
As published in the April 25, 2016 World-Spectator
Lorne Clarence Brownell was born on the family farm south of Ryerson on the NW 4-9-31 W1st on April 16th, 1935; the eldest son of Clarence and Ruth Brownell. He had three siblings, Grace Helen and Frank.
Lorne went to grade school attending Hutton School southwest of home, a 2 ½ mile walk or horseback ride. During his school years he would go early and light the wood stove and bring in wood and water.
He completed grade eight and decided to leave school and begin his farming career. He loved to farm. In his early farming years he worked on threshing crews first stooking and by the time he was 14 had his own team hauling sheaves back to the machine.
He came home from threshing one day and his mother asked him how the day went. He said that he would never work with a guy again that wore a big hat or smoked a pipe. When asked why, he said it had been windy that day and every time he looked over, the guy was either chasing his hat or trying to light his pipe. Dad did have a sense of humor.
Threshing was hard work but he loved it because he got to be around horses. Lorne loved horses, the bigger the better especially the teams. Dad and Clarence broke many teams for threshing crews. They had one team broke well enough that they would head back to the machine without a driver.
His love of horses stayed with him right until the day he passed, as he had spent that day at Brandon fair watching the four and six horse hitches. On May 21st, 1960, Lorne married the love of his life Grace Margaret Seale in Dauphin, MB. Lorne bought the N ½ of 33-8-31 just south of his dad’s farm and Lorne and Grace settled there. Together they began a life by milking cows, shipping cream, raising beef cows, a few pigs, some grain and of course horses.
Dad always had a team for chores. In 1966, they adopted a son Stephen and in 1969 adopted a daughter, the self-proclaimed better of the pair, Sharen.
Lorne and Grace continued farming, raising a family until 1994 when they decided to move to town and semi retire. Dad still came to the farm regularly and helped out anywhere he was needed. He liked nothing better than working with cattle or hogs and spent many hours on the tractor. In 1999 Lorne suffered a major heart attack that really slowed him down but never stopped him. The doctors told him it was bad enough that he may only have a couple years left. Boy, did he prove them wrong.
Lorne loved to visit. The coffee pot was always on and he always had time to talk. Mom and dad were always inviting people over, and growing up, the house always seemed to be full. Lorne also liked to go for a drive and depending who was with him, these drives were more like trips. I can remember a few of them ending up out by Regina or Winnipeg if he found something he wanted to see. He always seemed to make it home by night somehow.
Lorne loved people. If you went somewhere with him and stopped anywhere he would find someone to talk to and if he ever saw them again he would remember their name and where they were from and usually what they did for a living.
In 2002 the Lord took his love Grace to heaven after a lengthy battle with cancer. I was amazed watching him look after mom during those dark days. He would sit with her for hours and do whatever it took to make her more comfortable.
With his health failing, he decided in 2011 to sell his house and move into Redvers Union Estates, a new condo development just up the street from the house he was living in. He was a little hesitant at first but with time he loved it. He would say it was just like having another family, always had someone to talk to or have coffee with.
Lorne has a very strong faith in the Lord and accepted him as his savior at a young age. He was a member of the Gideon’s and helped start a church in Redvers in the 1990s.
Lorne always had a strong sense of family. He kept track of all the relatives with phone calls or trips out to see them. He remembered all their birthdays, anniversaries or any other important dates in their lives. Lorne is a proud grandfather to five precious grandchildren: Aimee, Kyle, Justin, Haley and Owen. He loved these young ones and I’ve been told many times by his neighbors in the condo that he talked proudly about their accomplishments. He loved to go to their events or have them stop by for a visit.
Lorne was predeceased by his father Clarence in 1983; mother Ruth in 1988; father-in-law John in 1987; brother Frank in 1993; sister Helen in 1998; brother-in-law Don in 1999 and sister-in-law Betty Seale in 2009.
Lorne is survived by his son Stephen (Tania) of Redvers; his daughter Sharen (Richard) Hogarth of Moosomin; sister Grace (Sig) Schuster of Calgary; brother-in-law Ross Seale of Lloydminster; brother-in-law Wyman Seale of Yorkton; brother-in-law Bob (Eleanor) Seale of Moose Jaw and sister-in-law Mary (Rudy) Mula of Lower Sackville, NS; his grandchildren, Aimee, Kyle, Justin, Haley and Owen and many nieces, nephews, extended family and many many friends.
Lorne went to be with his Lord and beloved Grace on April 1st, 2016. I am very proud to be able to call Lorne my dad, he was a simple man that tried to instill simple values in his family. Family was the most important thing in Dad’s life, he would do anything for them and was always so proud of them.
Dad once told me when I was growing up that when you get up in the morning, try to treat everyone the way you would like to be treated and you can go to bed that night with no regrets. Love you Dad.
A funeral service took place on Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at Maryfield Associated Gospel Church with Pastor Hans Elgby, officiating. Interment was in Redvers Cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, in memory of Lorne. Please e-mail or sign the online book of condolences at www.carscaddenfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to: G.R. Carscadden Funeral Chapel, Moosomin.
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