Norman L. Rabel

Norman Lee Rabel, 89, of Canton, passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at his residence. He was born on January 14, 1932, in Pleasant Hope, Missouri, to Jesse and Pauline (Allyn) Rabel. He married Betty Cunningham on April 24, 1951. He then married Nancy Shaw on September 19, 1970, in Peoria, Illinois. She survives. He is survived by his three daughters, Norma (Bill) Bills of Canton, Natalie (Brian) Orwig of Fairview, and Nancy L. Rabel of Canton; five grandchildren, Shonna Burnap, Narissa (Garrett) Whitehurst, Brock Orwig, Micah Barnhart and Cale Barnhart; two great-grandsons, Garrett Shipman and Dylan Shipman; and one sister, Muriel Oswald of Chillicothe.He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald Rabel; his son, Robert; his grandson, John Milner; and his great-grandson, Grant Shipman. Norm worked his entire life starting at the young age of four when he helped deliver water to the WPA workers in southern Missouri. Shortly thereafter he started his lifelong habit of chewing tobacco at the age ripe old age of 6! At the age of 13, Norm was working on a farm when he was the victim of a farm accident where his clothes caught fire, severely burning his legs. As a result, he endured several skin graph surgeries, ran 3 hospitals out of the newly introduced drug, penicillin, was hospitalized hundreds of miles away from family for several months in the Shriners Children's Hospitals, and missed months of school.At the age of 16, Norm ventured out on his own and moved to Illinois to work for Big Bear Coal Company while living in a bus that he converted to living quarters. Three years later, he embarked on his 32-year career as a Teamster at OK Trucking Company in Peoria before retiring in 1981. He then drove bus for the Canton Union School District for 10 years during which time he and Nancy also owned and operated Rabel's 4-N Mobile Home Park and Rabel's Tropical Fish, both located in Canton. They finally officially retired in 1994 and for several years traveled to Texas for the winters. Norm's life was dedicated to working and providing for his family. He enjoyed being outside, mowing, listening to the St. Louis Cardinals, and spending time with his family and his beloved dogs, Bonnie, Clyde and Daisy. Every neighborhood he lived in was filled with his boisterous laugh. Memorials may be made to, Shriner's Children's Hospital or to Canton Fire Department. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A private funeral service and burial will be held at Lancaster Cemetery in Glasford. To leave online condolences please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com