Obit: Norks, Mike L. #3 (1920 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

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

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 9/23/2015

Norks, Mike L. (27 September 1920 - 14 September 2015)

Mike L. Norks, age 94, of Greenwood, passed away on September 14, 2015, at his son’s home. He died surrounded by the family he loved, fields of corn, green pastures and fresh country air.

Mike was born September 27, 1920, at the family farm in the Town of Reseburg, Clark County, to Mike and Monica “Minnie” (Lebanowski) Norks. Mike lived an adventurous life working in the shipyards at Duluth-Superior; then rode the trains to find work in the Portland, Oregon shipyards. He traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana 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 (Depa) Norks. On June 27, 1953, they married, and then moved back to the Norks family farm to raise six daughters and one son.

Mike was a parishioner at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig 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 like to deer hunt, take long Sunday drives, especially in the fall, and spend time with his family. He loved to farm and watched his crops grow. After retirement, he and Frances enjoyed many trips to the casino.

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

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

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, Father Janusz Kowalski officiated and burial followed in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery in Thorp. Pallbearers were: Anthony Norks, Christopher Arndt, Jeffrey Wertepny, Jeremy Wertepny, David Simmons, Bradley Simmons, and Travis Simmons. Visitation was held at the Thorp Funeral Home on Friday, September 18, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. rosary service, and at the church, on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.