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1914
Frank
2015
Dr. Frank "Doc" Norden
October 2, 1914 — May 23, 2015
Dr. Frank "Doc" Norden, 100, died May 23, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A graveside committal service will be held June 2, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at Oakland Cemetery, with lunch following at St. John's Lutheran Church. The family requests memorials be directed to Veterans' Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan Center, or charity of choice. Martin Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
He was born October 2, 1914, in Stutsman County, North Dakota, the only son of Frank and Alma Graves Norden. He was christened Francis Wilson. Frank was educated in country school and in Woodworth and Jamestown, ND, schools. He attended Wahpeton (N.D.) School of Science and Jamestown (N.D.) College. Frank graduated in 1939 from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL.
He chose to practice optometry in Waukon from 1940-1943 and 1946-1986. From 1943-1946, he served in the U.S. Navy as the commanding officer of an ocean-going tugboat. Frank married Gertrude Sanders of Postville, IA, on April 10, 1941. They had two daughters.
He loved sports. As a boy, he played Legion baseball, and watched Negro League baseball players, including Satchel Paige. In high school, he played on the state champion football team. In college, he played in the first American-style football game in Canada, and played basketball against the Harlem Globetrotters. As an adult, he fished and golfed, and in 1996, at age 82, made a hole-in-one at the Waukon Golf Club. He enjoyed inventing things, including one that he marketed.
Frank served his community in Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, and the Chamber of Commerce, and served terms on the school board. He was a devoted member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and served as president of the church board of trustees.
Frank and Gertrude moved to Onalaska, WI, in 2002, to be near their daughter. In 2014, after Gertrude's death, He returned to Waukon to reside at Evergreen Court.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, his parents, three sisters, two nieces and a nephew. He is survived by his daughters, Kristen of Washington, DC, and Margaret of La Crosse, WI, two nieces and a nephew, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. Frank leaves relatives in the United States, Canada, and Sweden.
He was born October 2, 1914, in Stutsman County, North Dakota, the only son of Frank and Alma Graves Norden. He was christened Francis Wilson. Frank was educated in country school and in Woodworth and Jamestown, ND, schools. He attended Wahpeton (N.D.) School of Science and Jamestown (N.D.) College. Frank graduated in 1939 from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL.
He chose to practice optometry in Waukon from 1940-1943 and 1946-1986. From 1943-1946, he served in the U.S. Navy as the commanding officer of an ocean-going tugboat. Frank married Gertrude Sanders of Postville, IA, on April 10, 1941. They had two daughters.
He loved sports. As a boy, he played Legion baseball, and watched Negro League baseball players, including Satchel Paige. In high school, he played on the state champion football team. In college, he played in the first American-style football game in Canada, and played basketball against the Harlem Globetrotters. As an adult, he fished and golfed, and in 1996, at age 82, made a hole-in-one at the Waukon Golf Club. He enjoyed inventing things, including one that he marketed.
Frank served his community in Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, and the Chamber of Commerce, and served terms on the school board. He was a devoted member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and served as president of the church board of trustees.
Frank and Gertrude moved to Onalaska, WI, in 2002, to be near their daughter. In 2014, after Gertrude's death, He returned to Waukon to reside at Evergreen Court.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, his parents, three sisters, two nieces and a nephew. He is survived by his daughters, Kristen of Washington, DC, and Margaret of La Crosse, WI, two nieces and a nephew, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. Frank leaves relatives in the United States, Canada, and Sweden.
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