Howard D. Norvold, age 86, of Woodville, WI, died on Tuesday, October 23, at the Park View Nursing Home in Woodville. Howard was born to Hobart and Docia (Lunde) Norvold on August 16, 1926 on the Norvold family farm in Woodville. The eldest of 4 children, he graduated early from Hudson High School to answer the call and serve as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps. He was proud to defend his country’s freedom during “the Big One”, WWII. He fought in the Pacific Theater in the battle of Okinawa and following the Japanese surrender, was stationed in Tientsin, China during the Chinese occupation.
After his return, Howard attended Macalester College in St. Paul. He then took employment with Northwest Orient Airlines as a purser. He flew the Orient routes from 1948-59. It was on a flight in late 1951 that he charmed an attractive crew member by the name of Joyce Rudquist. The two were engaged on Valentines Day in 1952 and were united in marriage at the Bethel Lutheran Church of Hudson on June 21, 1952. The marriage was blessed with 3 sons, Mark, Peter, and James.
Howard continued to fly for NWA until 1959. He then studied for his Airframe and Powerplant Certification and became a mechanic for Northwest until his retirement in 1983.
Howard was very active in his church, Bethel Lutheran of Hudson. He served as the Superintendent of Sunday School for 29 years. He enjoyed a 40+ year tenure as a tenor in the church choir and served on the organ committee, bringing a beautiful Casavant Organ to Bethel. He also performed as one of the Magi in an early Phipps Center production, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. He and Joyce enjoyed the Metropolitan Opera in Minneapolis, attending many performances there. They were able to hear many operatic performances throughout Europe as well. Howard was also a proud member of the Woodville American Legion Post #301.
Howard is survived by his; loving wife of 62 years, Mary Joyce; sons, Mark of Woodville and Peter (Angie) of Hudson; grandchildren, Heidi Norvold of Inver Grove Heights, Sarah Louise Norvold of Nashville, TN, Mary Carol (Jared) Troemner of Spring Valley, Phillip (Heather) Norvold of Eau Claire, Lily, Lucy and Simon Norvold of Hudson, Ryan (Amy Marie) VanArkel Waterloo, IA, Amy Linn VanArkel of Cedar Falls, IA, and Matthew VanArkel of Cedar Falls, IA; great-grandchildren, Faylene, Elias and Kai Troemner of Spring Valley, Jaxson Norvold of Eau Claire, and Isaac, Maddie, Jace and Jocelyn VanArkel of Waterloo, IA; brother, Robert of Hudson; and many other relatives and dear friends.
Howard is preceded by his parents, Hobart and Docia, son, James and sisters, Donna Mueller and Irene Norvold.
A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, October 27 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Woodville, WI. Burial will follow at the Lone Pine Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held for 1 hour prior to services at the church as well as from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday, October 26 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorials given will be donated in Howard’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project as well as the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Services are in the care of the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin. 715-684-3434