Norman R. Nilsen Sr.

NILSEN Norman R. Sr. Norman R. Nilsen Sr., age 74, died in Sun City, Ariz., on March 10, 2011. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis. Born November 1, 1936 in New York, to Nils and Hilja Nilsen, he graduated from Columbia High School in East Greenbush, N.Y. Norman served in the United States Navy on active duty and served as a reservist for 30 years. On January 18, 1958 he married Virginia Carey of Chatham, N.Y. Norman lived nearly all of his life in Nassau, N.Y., on a quiet country road, on a parcel of land that his parents bought when he was a child. It was there that he and his wife built their family home. He was a first class electricians mate and provided for his family with those skills that he had first learned in the Navy. He retired from the Times Union in Albany at the age of 62. Norman will be especially remembered for his warm friendly nature. He had a wonderful sense of humor which attracted many friends. He loved the outdoors and was a skilled hunter and conservationist. He had a deep sense of duty and love for his country and the Navy. He loved to travel and visited many states from Maine to California. He was a country and bluegrass music devotee and traveled to many music festivals around the country. He also enjoyed Civil War reenactments and spent many a fall weekend at Cedar Creek ,Va. Norman Sr. was preceded in death, by his wife, Virginia. Survivors include his three children, Norman Jr., Lynn and Leigh. He leaves six grandchildren, Lacey, Amanda, Derek, Connor, Luther, Angelina, and one great-grandchild, Halle. In addition, a dear friend Doris Unger. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a military funeral service for Norman at the Gerald B. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery (200 Duell Rd., Schuylerville, N.Y.) at 12 p.m. sharp on Friday, July 1. Everyone is invited to attend a memorial picnic at Lyons Lake (307 Lyons Lake Rd.) on that same day, starting at 2:30 p.m. Please contact, Leigh Nilsen at (413) 499-7782 with any questions.