Arthur F. Norgaard
...retired U.S. Navy, active Lutheran; 69
No. TEWKSBURY - Retired Chief Petty Officer, Arthur F. Norgaard, U.S.N., age 69, died peacefully on Monday evening, October 12, at his North Tewksbury home, surrounded by his family, after a courageous eleven month battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Cheryl A. (Mickus) Norgaard, with whom he had celebrated a 42nd wedding anniversary this past August 19th.
He was born in Norman, Oklahoma, July 5, 1940, the son of the late Arthur W. and Ethel (Racek) Norgaard, and was raised in both Iowa and California. He graduated from the Chula Vista High School in California and attended San Diego State.
He enlisted into the U.S. Navy, and served from 1959 until 1979, retiring at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Upon his Navy retirement, he began work at the Beckman-Coulter Company. He concurrently worked and attended college, and graduated from Lesley College. After more than 20 years with the company as a Biomedical Engineer, retired from Beckman-Coulter in 2006.
He was a devout Lutheran, was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Chelmsford, where he served on many committees including the Church Council, and headed the Christian Education Program. He was also active in the Campus Ministry at UMass-Lowell, and volunteered at the Middlesex Shelter in Lowell. He worked tirelessly for Habitat for Humanity locally in Bedford, and following Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Robyn Turner and her husband Glenn of Wilmington, Nancy Silva and her husband Louis of Pepperell; a granddaughter, Jessica Turner; a sister, Barbara Sufficool and her husband Allen of Nampa, ID; and several nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Service was held Oct. 17, in the Trinity Lutheran Church, 170 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford, followed by burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, No. Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Habitat for Humanity or E.L.C.A. World Hunger charities, c/o Trinity Lutheran Church, 170 Old Westford Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 will be appreciated.