Worcester: Norman R. Ekholm, 101, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on January 28, 2018. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Margaret S. (Fisher) Ekholm and is survived by his daughter Patricia Anne and her husband Stephen C. Tosi; two grandchildren, Scot C. Tosi and Jennifer Tosi; 3 great grandchildren- Drew and Max Tosi and Blaise Johnson; and a niece Lynne Buckley of West Boylston.
Norman was born in Worcester, son of the late Roland A. and Agnes S. (Sunden) Ekholm and lived in Holden for most of his life. He graduated from High School of Commerce in 1935 and attended Northeastern University. He was a veteran of WWII, serving 3 years in the U.S. Navy as a Flight Engineer. Mr. Ekholm was associated with Norton Company for 44 years, retiring in 1979. He was a Sales Supervisor on the west coast for the grinding wheel division and subsequently went to Atlanta, GA as District Sales Manager. He was named New England District Manager in 1962 and Eastern Regional Sales Manager in 1964. In 1968 he was named General Sales Manager for the abrasive materials division, the position he held until his retirement.
He was a graduate of the American Management Association Institute, the Field Sales Management Institute sponsored by the National Sales Executive Association. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a 77 year member of Morningstar Lodge in Worcester, a member of the Consistory, Valley of Boston and Valley of Worcester and a member of Shrine Aleppo Temple in Wilmington and the Worcester County Shrine Club and former director. He was a trustee of the Swedish Cemetery Corporation and a trustee of Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital. He was a member and past president of the Odin Club, a member of the Hiram Retirees Club, The Greendale Retired Men's Club and its golf league, the Norton 25 year club and the Boys Club Alumni Association. He was a member of Worcester Country Club and its Board of Governors, the New England Senior Golfers' Association, the U.S. Navy Mariner/Marlin Association, the Worcester Historical Society, the John Harkins Post of the American Legion and a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Worcester. He was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels of Holden.
There are no calling hours. A memorial service with military honors and burial will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Norman's memory may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund 41 Whitmarsh Ave. Worcester or the Shrine Hospital for Children in Boston or Springfield MA. To leave an online condolence message, please click link.