Lawrence (Larry) Tucker

Lawrence Ronald Tucker was born on February 7^th, 1928; the youngest child of William and Tracey Tucker of Cromarty, Manitoba. Dad was a precocious child; witty and with a penchant for playing tricks on his family and friends. This never changed during his 93 years! Through his life, he shared countless memories of growing up, including how he owned a 1926-ish Harley Davidson Pan when he was 17 and once got home from socializing just in time to go to work in the hot field for the day. Dad married Lenor Sanders November 15, 1947 at the family farm in Roblin, and they were married all those many years until she passed away in June, 2021. The night of the wedding, they were snowed in and had to bring in horses to pull the cars out of the snow on that infamous lane that was always blocked. The couple had their first child, Terry, in 1948 and their second child, Shirley, in 1949. Dad joined the army in 1956 and Joe was born in 1957.

Dad was in the army for six years, with the family stationed at Calgary and Germany. Their fourth child, Delada, was born when they were stationed in Germany and their fifth, Leslie, in 1960 when they returned to Calgary. Dad’s incredible driving skill was legendary both in the army and out. He was chosen from the entire company to drive during an inspection by a famous general and taught his kids and grandkids that they should know exactly where the four wheels of the vehicle were when they were driving. This seemed to many of us to be a hopeless expectation!

He worked at various jobs before the army adventure, including a sawmill in the Duck Mountains and at his uncle’s farms in Saskatchewan. Although he did peel hundreds of pounds of potatoes in the army (due to his sassy nature always getting him in trouble!), Dad was honourably discharged in 1962 and the family moved to the farm in Roblin. Their sixth child, Kathy, was born in 1964.

Dad farmed until he retired and developed a reputation for his beautifully straight crop rows. He had an affinity for the land and nature. He faithfully fed the birds every day until he wasn’t able, dressing up warm in the winter and trouncing through the snow. When a family of raccoons made their home in “the old house” one summer, dad fed the mama racoon an egg right out of his hand every day. He rescued (what he thought was) an abandoned coyote pup that turned out to be Freda the Fox. She lived with dad and mom, free to come and go as she pleased – burying eggs in the couch cushions and making fox tracks on the vehicles - until she left as an adult; coming back once to show off her litter of kits. Dad believed that to sit and watch a bird build a nest provided an extraordinary learning experience and that sitting and contemplating nature was a necessary pastime.

Dad was deeply intelligent, well read, politically astute and always up for a rousing debate with his family and friends. He loved keeping the immense lawn perfectly manicured and liked things neat and tidy around the yard and in the house. His gestures were never grand but they always meant a lot; warming the truck up all toasty to take his grandkids to the bus and waiting with them until it came, taking them on little trips around the farm and showing them that very big kind spot that he liked to keep hidden as much as possible. He and mom made a formidable crokinole team, with Dad able to get a “bullseye” seemingly at will. He was a big sports fan in general, with a particular affinity for the Edmonton Oilers.

Dad will be deeply missed by his six children, daughter- and sons in law, 20 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Lloyd, Albert (Alice), Ralph (Ada), sisters Jean (Orm) and Agnes (Fred), his wife Lenor, daughter in law Paula, sons in law Don and Ed and grandson Chris.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” – Hunter S. Thompson

Visitation was held on November 25, 2021 from the chapel of NairnChyz-Wolkowski Funeral Service, Roblin, MB. Graveside service followed at Roblin Community Cemetery with Father Paul Bisson officiating.  Donation may be made to Roblin Food Bank as token of remembrance.  To leave a note of condolence please visit nairnchyz-wolkowski.ca

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