Tom was born October 23, 1931 on the farm west of Wawota to Stanley and Ferne (Kenderdine) Dorrance. He was the 6th of 9 children raised on the family farm and continued living on the original homestead of 1889 until the day he passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2020 at the Wawota Deer View Lodge with his family by his side.
Tom will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 60 years Irene (Hutchinson); 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren. Kevin (Kim) Dorrance (Jordan, Sydney, Brock); Heather (Steve) Sombach (Jackson, Carson, Rylar, Connor, Matt); Brenda Morgan (Austin, Brandon, Lana); Leanne (Ken) Vaughan (Mackenna, Lindsay); Trent (Janelle) Dorrance (Tyren, Brody, Caden); as well as his siblings and in-laws, Elsie Allan, Annie Easton, Kay Dorrance, Margaret Guillaume, Clair (Lorna) Dorrance, Marion (Harvey) Goehring, Edith (Darryl) Russell, Grace Hutchinson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Tom is predeceased by his parents Stanley and Ferne Dorrance; in-laws Sydney and Mabel (Surridge) Hutchinson; siblings Aleita (Tom White and Ewald Prince), Mary (Sam) McClure, Joe Dorrance, Winnie (Carmen) Kent and brother in law Peter Guillaume and Ray Allan.
Tom attended school at Highview and then continued his education obtaining a diploma in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. Tom was always interested in cattle and purchased his first purebred Hereford in 1941 at the age of 10. Tom, with his brother Joe, took over the farm in 1951 and then later continued farming with his oldest son Kevin. Tom has witnessed many changes of farming throughout his lifetime, from the use of horses to the automatic use of tractors today.
Tom has participated and held numerous positions within many Agricultural Associations including Director and President of the Saskatchewan and Canadian Hereford Association. He showed and judged extensively including such shows as the Toronto Royal Fair and Canadian Western Agribition since the inception 49 years ago. In 1990 one of Tom’s greatest honours came when he was inducted into the Canadian Hereford Association Honour Roll; as well this past Agribition Tom received a prestigious award of 75 years of raising Hereford cattle.
Tom enjoyed raising cattle and being on the farm but mostly loved being with family and doing many activities such as hosting family gatherings, fishing, cards, games, and watching any sports the grandchildren were a part of. Family was Tom’s greatest love.
Tom’s cheerful and friendly spirit will be missed by all who know and love him. A service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at a later date.
Donations in Memory of Tom may be made to the Wawota Deer View Lodge or the Highview Cemetery.
