Obit: Norks, Mike L. #2 (1920 – 2015)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Norks, Lebanowski, Depa, Cox, Kaltenbach, Wertepny, Connolly, Arndt, Simmons, Henderson, Cappelletti

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 23 Sep 2015

Norks, Mike L. (27 SEP 1920 – 14 SEP 2015)

Mike L. Norks, 94, Greenwood, passed away on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at his son’s home. He died surrounded by the family he loved, fields of corn, green pastures and fresh country air. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 19, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Janusz Kowalski officiated. Burial followed in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery in Thorp.

Mike was born on Sept. 27, 1920, at the family farm in the town of Reseburg, Clark County, to Mike and Monica “Minnie” (nee Lebanowski) Norks. Mike lived an adventurous life working in the shipyards at Duluth-Superior, then rode the trains to find work in the Portland, Ore., shipyards. He traveled to New Orleans, La., where he claimed to have eaten his first, and only, raw oyster. For many years he worked as a carpenter. In Chicago, he met and married the love of his life, Frances (nee Depa) Norks. On June 27, 1953, they married, then moved back to the Norks family farm to raise six daughters and one son. Mike was a parishioner at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp and a former parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood. Mike had a great love of the outdoors and he shared that love with his wife and children. He was an avid fisherman who enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, deep sea fishing off the Washington coast and many years of ice fishing. Mike liked to deer hunt, take long Sunday drives, especially in the fall, and spend time with his family. He loved to farm and watch his crops grow. After retirement he and Frances enjoyed many trips to the casino.

Mike is survived by his seven children: Nancy Cox, Port Orchard, Wash., Barbara Kaltenbach, Elk Grove Village Ill., Sharon (Jeff) Wertepny, Longmont, Colo., Karen Connolly, McHenry, Ill., Darlene “Cha” Arndt, Tacoma, Wash., Marlene “Tina” (Dave) Simmons, Chippewa Falls, and Michael Norks, Greenwood; 18 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Frances, on Oct. 26, 2008; his parents; two sisters: Jane Henderson, Isanti, Minn., and Agnes Cappelletti, River Grove, Ill.; three grandchildren, Eric, Nicole and Melanie Arndt; and a son-in-law, Patrick Connolly.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.