Daniel Gordon Negrin

To all of you that know me I'm sad to announce my time here has come to an end. As I said to cousin John when he asked me to say hi to his mom Eloise I responded “Where I'm going it will be much warmer than where Eloise has gone”. I was well known for my sense of humour I was born on June 17th, 1947, in Nanaimo to Bennie and Lorainne Negrin. I began my first year with many health issues but I came from a lineage of strong men and with dairy farming in my blood it wasn't long before I was milking the cows on the family farm and chucking bales of hay with one swing of my pitchfork. Being allergic to hay was not an excuse my father Bennie would accept, and he would often be heard saying “You can have your allergy attacks all you want once I'm dead, but until then there is work to be done”.

I grew up with my younger brother Donald and my baby sister Diana. Friday nights were my favorite in our home as it was Fish N Chip night! We tragically lost my brother Donald when he was 14 and shortly after that I left the farm to pursue my first away job logging. Shortly after I began logging, I met and adopted my daughter Sharon. Tragedy struck a second time when my sister Diana while giving birth to her daughter Cindy on New Years Eve passed away. These events really weighed heavy on me as family is everything. {It’s an Italian thing} I don't recall ever enjoying another Christmas season after that!

Years later as Cindy grew, I'd take her out in my excavator. I ended my logging career after losing many buddies and having many near misses myself. I got myself a backhoe and contracted out many jobs through my then favorite hangout the Lantzville pub. I was seen digging out many a ditch in and around Lantzville. When not running my backhoe/ excavator you could find me skiing, golfing, fishing and hunting. In the later years I'd take my dad Bennie and his buddy Bill Allen into the interior and go Truck Hunting...yes, we would open the door and shoot!!

I had quite the shock as you can well imagine when in 1992, I met my biological daughter Kathy I didn't know about. You can imagine the surprise and excitement my parents felt after losing so much to find out they had a long-lost granddaughter. I met my longtime partner Natalie {son’s Darren, Dylan and Devon and Danny} around 1999. Boy did we have some fun!! Nat you will never forget the time I played the Baby Grand Piano for you in our Pan Pacific suite penthouse. I bet none of you knew I could play the piano either!

I lost my dad, my mentor Bennie in 2011. My dad as you all knew was a pillar in our community of Lantzville, not only did I have BIG shoes to fill but sadly I never reached his height of 6’3’ and that caused me to miss on my police application years ago.

Sharon went on to give me my two grandsons Linden {I’ll be waiting for that Red Seal} and Oliver {keep the grass cut on the farm with that new ride’m lawn mower} My niece Cindy {Christien} went on to have Madison {baby Ben} Olivia and Abigail. My daughter Kathy {Kevin} “I liked that guy” gave me my grandson Keenan {so happy my last memory was you driving me in my truck out to Fanny Bay to pick up oysters} and my only and {favorite} granddaughter Keanna {the one that got me to finally quit smoking!}

I lost my mom Lorainne 3 years ago this week. I proudly say I gave my mom all her gray hairs, I was really hard on her but I loved her fiercely. When I lost her, I really lost a part of myself. My mom was often described as” an angel here on earth”

I then tragically lost my daughter Sharon 2 years ago, a blow that I never recovered from. I've worn many hats in my life, I meant different things to different people. Although my health has been declining for the past two years I don't feel I got the opportunity to say a true goodbye to you all. I'd like to start with my family at the Lantzville pub. Haverty I’ll miss my road trips to see you in Alberta, Habman “who's jumping in the volcano tonight?” My friends at the Wellington Pub, Lou “don't forget your taser” Fred and Patricia, Nikki, Bruce, Mike, Mikey Gary and Kerri and all the ones I have not named, you know who you are. ngie “I will never forget our road trip out to the Kootenays, keep those suds going in the jacuzzi.”

Cousin Joe “for the first time in 45 years I'm going to miss our annual Christmas Uncle Benny” two finger rum and eggnog.

My Best and longtime friend Ray “you were the ONLY guy that wasn't afraid to call me out “I'm going to miss you and hey …BRING BACK MY BARTENDER speaking of Alisa...Alisa without you I would not have won so many times on Keno. You kept my numbers going and just so you know every time you win with my favorite numbers {like the other day} I'm thinking of you!

Little Dan what would I have done without you,” you were my son in every sense of the word. Natalie, my partner of many years who I completely trusted, you advocated for my care right up to the end, thank you, I love you and will miss you!

With the upcoming election ...”GO TRUMP GO”

Finally, I'm going to miss my Truck and my 55 Chevy and as my license plate says on my 55

I……

“GOTAGO”