It is with great sadness that we announce the peacefully passing of Lorne Gerald Cockerill of Roblin, MB on Sunday, August 16, 2020 at the Roblin District Hospital at the age of 86 years.  
Lorne was born on March 24, 1934 in Merridale, MB. to Earnest and Annie (Motyka) Cockerill.  Lorne was the third child. He had three siblings: eldest sister Ruth, older brother Horace and younger brother Donald.  Lorne’s mother passed away when he was two years old.  His father Ernest looked after the children until he tragically drowned in the fall of 1949.  The family was then raised by the grandparents.  Lorne also spent time at Art and Maria Cockerill’s.  Lorne received his education at the Merridale School.   At the young age of 16 Lorne started working for farmers in the area doing whatever needed to be done which usually meant hard manual labour.  The main farmer that he worked for was John Yellowega.  When Lorne was in his early twenties he went to Lacombe AB and worked on the rigs, from there to Lynn Lake to become a diamond driller doing exploration drilling for the mine.  In 1962 Lorne returned to Roblin and on January 10th he and Bonnie Radford were married. They bought up a few head of cattle and started farming. He also trapped and logged in the Duck Mountain during the winters with Dennis Donaldson for a few years.  He then bought up a half section in Merridale and began farming full time adding land as the years went by.  Lorne put up hay in the Duck Mountains and rented hay land from his uncle Kelly Cockerill.   
In 1970 Lorne and Bonnie’s family began to grow and they were so thrilled to welcome Troy Ernest to their circle.  Troy shares the same birthdate as Lorne being March 24th.   In 1973 a beautiful pink bundle, Tamara Michelle born on October 23rd came to join them and their joy was complete!  They loved their children and enjoyed the years of hockey, ringette, baseball, swimming lessons, Christmas concerts and many boisterous birthday parties! Friends and family would come and stay all summer long!
After raising the children Bonnie and Lorne divorced in 1989.  Lorne later met Gladys Tkatchuk who would become a faithful friend and partner for the last 23 years of his life. 
Lorne was predeceased by his mother Annie, father Ernest, brother Horace, sister-in-law Ada, nephew Douglas, sister-in-law Audrey, nieces Sandra, Donna, nephew Gary, nephews James & Dennis, niece Rhonda, brother-in-law Ron, father-in-law Arthur and mother-in-law Ruth.
Lorne leaves to mourn his passing his son Troy, wife Cynthia, granddaughter Amanda and great granddaughter Marleigh; his daughter Tamara (DeGagne), son-in-law Dale, and granddaughter Rhonda; his sister Ruth Sanders,  brother-in-law Wilson,  brother Don and sister-in-law Bev Cockerill, his friend and partner Gladys Tkatchuk, his aunt Mary and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Having lost his mother and father at a young age, Lorne grew up a strong, hardworking individual.  He loved his farming and was a very good cattleman and grain farmer.  His cattle herd was his pride. He spent much time around his cows and they followed him wherever at the command of his voice.  Lorne quite often calved out his cows at 100%. They were always fat, well fed and bedded down with lots of straw.  Lorne was also a great trapper, hunter and fisherman.  He trapped on a trap line in the Duck Mountain in his early 80’s along with his very good friend Gerald Brook.  Lorne also loved to dance, visit, play cards, curl and golf.  Once he retired Lorne loved to watch his Toronto Blue Jays, curling bonspiels and golf on TV. You could also find him most mornings at the Drop In Center having coffee and playing pool with the guys.  Lorne golfed into his eighties and looked forward to hitting the links whenever Troy or Tamara would come out.  
Lorne took on all his activities with vigor and challenge, he was a man of his word and treasured his family and many friends. 
A private family service was held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 2:00 pm at the Roblin Free Methodist Church with Pastor Heath Butler officiating. Private Interment for immediate family followed from the Roblin District Cemetery. 

Covid-19 gathering restrictions were followed and face masks were mandatory at all gatherings. 

Services were live streamed from this page at the service times listed above. You may access it by going to Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Facebook directly, or by clicking on the Facebook icon on Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Home's homepage. 

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