Henry Randolph Nordin

With sadness but also with great love, respect and admiration for a life well lived, we announce the passing of Henry Randolph Nordin on Saturday, January 10, 2026. He was 99 years young. He left this world in a sublimely peaceful manner, watched over by his daughter Allaine, son-in-law Tommy and granddaughter Vanessa.  He is survived by his former wife Lois Nordin, son Ron Nordin (wife Beth Panagos), daughter Allaine Nordin (husband Tommy Waller), grandchildren John Nordin (wife Amanda Coleman), Walker Nordin, Vanessa Waller, John and Walker's mother Leslie Nicholson, and great grandchildren, Henry Nordin and Freya Nordin. He is survived also by his sister Irene Bekkering, brother Morris Nordin, and nieces and nephews too numerous to count.  He was a wonderful father, doting grandfather and very positive life force inspiring many, especially all the kids in his life. As his sister Irene shared “Everyone should have an Uncle Henry!” He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

A son of hard-working parents who immigrated from Scandinavia, he grew up on a farm homestead in Saskatchewan with his nine brothers and sisters (and 13 horses). He met his future wife Lois Myrfield while playing a game of ‘hanky’ at a social in the local Lutheran Church in Buchanan. Not seeing a future for himself in farming, he borrowed a horse from his father and rode off to University in Saskatoon with his brother Philip. During college years he and Lois got married. They moved to Toronto soon after he graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering.   He then began a long career in food research culminating as Director of Research at Canada Packers in Toronto. Henry built the family home in Concord, while Lois was busy homemaking, raising the children and developing a career as a Special Ed teacher in Vaughn township. A dedicated father, Henry always managed to get home every night for dinner and family activities. 

Creative, energetic and prolific, he also managed to build the TeePee cottage on Catchacoma Lake, and the ski chalet in Beaver Valley - with family recruits of course! The work at Catchacoma was a collaboration with close family friends the Hays - Ruth, Ed, Rick, Gord and Scott. It remains the most endearing, multigenerational family destination and legacy to his work.

In the years that followed, he pursued his architectural dreams building several condominiums and homes, the last of which was his beloved Pine Wynds Estate. He decorated it with his own art carvings and wire sculptures and hosted many winter family gatherings there in Ontario’s snow belt.  Many of his thoughts later in life were embodied in poems that he wrote, committing many of them to memory. He was able to recite them well into his late 90’s. We fancied him a modern-day Renaissance Man with broad interest in architecture, art, and technology. In many ways large and small, he passed on his positive life philosophy to his children and grandchildren and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

His last years were spent at Governors Walk Residence in Ottawa where he met his girlfriend, Joan Brown. They enjoyed many hours together on daily walks, meals in the dining room, and constant world news on TV. We are thankful to the staff at Governors Walk for the kind care shown to Dad during these years. 

A service and celebration of life for Henry will take place on Tuesday, January 20 at 1:00 PM at the Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services at 280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa. Interment to follow.