Mr Lynas passed away on Saturday 23rd November at the age of 77 after a short battle with a stroke and then a brain tumour.
He began his career with a small fish shop in Coleraine in Londonderry before growing a major family-owned frozen food firm, Lynas Foodservice, to over 560 staff, delivering food to the catering trade.
The company expanded to Scotland and in the last eleven years Norman supported his son Andrew as he took the business forward.
Andrew wrote in an obituary: "Dad was a salesperson at heart, he loved getting that extra box into the call. He loved his customers, enjoying calling on them for a cup of tea or seeing them at the different food shows and ensuring that their business was thriving. From schools, hospitals, chip shops to coffee shops he loved 'serving the Caterer.'"
Norman Lynas also established the Lynas Charitable Trust Fund in 1978 from income from the business to help people struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction, giving them the opportunity to respond to the Christian faith.
With his wife Lynda, he set up Exodus in 1997, an organisation to reach young people and grow them in their Christian faith
The organisation paid tribute to Mr Lynas, saying: "As staff we are grateful to Norman for his investment in us as a team, his consistency in prayer, his passion for the gospel and his willingness to empower young leaders to step out in faith.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a significant figure in many of our lives but can rest secure in the knowledge that he is with his Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ to whom he has dedicated his life."
His son Peter Lynas, director of the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland, said his father "leaves a living legacy in the many lives he touched and the impact he had for Jesus and the kingdom".
Peter wrote on Twitter on Saturday: "Dad died this morning. He was peaceful and surrounded by his family. He will be remembered as an encourager and dreamer who thoroughly embraced Jesus' words in John 10:10 - I have come that you might have life to the full"
Dad died this morning. He was peaceful and surrounded by his family. He will be remembered as an encourager and dreamer who thoroughly embraced Jesus' words in John 10:10 - I have come that you might have life to the full. You can read more here - https://t.co/CICMK6xq8g
— Peter Lynas (@peterlynas) November 23, 2019
A service of thanksgiving will take place on Wednesday 27th November at Portstewart Baptist church.
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