Nordby, Keith L. age 87, of Brooklyn Park, formerly of Osseo, Brooklyn Center, and the Camden area of North Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Charlotte; brother, Richard Nordby; and his parents. He is survived by his son, Kent; daughter-in-law, Dawn; granddaughter, Kelsey Denise Nordby; grandson, Brandan Keith (Madeline) Nordby; sister-in-law, Carol Nordby; nephews, Reverend Kurt (Ann) Nordby, Kevin (Leslie) Nordby; nieces, Kathi Hollihan, Krisiti (Tom) Pavek; grandnephews, Ryan Hollihan, Jacob Pavek, Benjamin (Beth) Nordby, and Matthew (Kelly) Nordby; and many other loving family and friends. Keith was a graduate of Hamilton Grade School and Patrick Henry High School Class of 1944. He was a veteran of WW II, serving in the Navy V-5 Program at Gustavus Adolphus College in 1944-1945 and the Pre-Flight School at Ottumwa, Iowa and the University of Iowa. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science Class of 1947 and was a member of the U of M President's Club. He was a partner, with his wife Charlotte, in the Evans-Nordby Funeral Homes in Osseo and Brooklyn Center from 1952-1991. They established the Nordby Lectureship at North Hennepin Community College in 1995. He was also a member of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Assn. (serving as president 1963-1964), the Academy of Professional Services Practice, and a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner. He was the recipient of the U of M Mortuary Science Alumnus of the year Award in 1981 and 1986. In May of 1990 at the 100th Annual Convention of the Minnesota Funeral Director he received for the second time the Distinguished Service Award. In 1993 he received the North Hennepin Community College Benefactors Award. He and Charlotte received the Brooklyn Park Rotary Citizen of the Year Award 1994-1995 and in 1997 Keith received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Brooklyn Park Rotary Club. In May 2000 he received the Helen Keller Award from Lion's International and was named a Melvin Jones Fellow in Lion's International in 2006. In December of 2012 he received a 60 year member pin from the Osseo Lion's Club. In 2006 he received the Presidential Medallion from North Hennepin Community College. Keith was a member and past president of the Osseo Lion's Club, chairman of the Osseo Bicentennial Celebration, member of the Osseo American Legion Post 172, member of Brooklyn United Methodist Church, serving as building chairman when the new sanctuary was built. He was an Honorary Deputy Sheriff under Patrick McGowan 1996-2006. Funeral Service 11 AM Thursday, August 8, at Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center. Visitation 4-8 PM Wednesday, August 7, at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center. Visitation also 1 hour prior to service at church. Interment Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center. If so desired, memorials may be given to the Keith L. Nordby Memorial Fund. Evans-Nordby 763-533-3000 www.evansnordby.com
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.