Olav Normann

1925 - 2016

Olav Normann OLIVEBRIDGE - Early Monday Morning, Dec. 12, 2016, Valhalla welcomed a beloved local Viking. Olav “Pops” Normann, who was born on Nov. 12, 1925 to Brita and Edvard Normann, seventh of twelve in a beautiful, waterfall-adorned back corner of mountainous Sognefjord, Norway called Morkji, has gone home where his parents and siblings Peder, Emil, Olga, Lovise and Bjarne will welcome him. Four of the twelve Normann siblings would emigrate to the United States. Peder, being the first of the gang to set out, settled in Minnesota for a time. Later, in 1948, Olav and his brothers Bjarne and Norvald would also leave the majestic beauty of their fjord-home for Lapskaus Boulevard, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It was there that he met Solveig Gabrielsen, who also came over from Norway in 1948, at Sjømannskirken, and on Dec. 17, 1949 became his bride. Olav and Solveig made Bay Ridge their home for another six years before taking their three oldest children - Esther and three week old twins Rita and Einar - upstate to settle on “The Hill,” as Pops fondly referred to the once hunting camp that he, himself - with Solveig by his side - turned into a beautiful cedar-sided home perched atop a perfectly landscaped plot on Acorn Hill Rd. in Krumville where their son Steven would later join the family, and Pops would reside until taking his last breath 61 years later surrounded by his loving tribe. Olav is survived by his wife of 67 years, Solveig “Mormor” Normann; their four children: Esther Normann, Rita M. Bier and her husband Andrew, Einar Normann and his wife Marta and Steven O. Normann; ten grandchildren: Kari E. Hoyt, Joshua Normann and his partner Jennifer Stauss, Christina Bier, Christopher Normann, Allison N. Bier, Kyle Normann and his fiancée Katrina Brink, Matthew Normann and his partner Amanda Sauer, Andrew Bier, Jr., Zachary Normann and his wife Elisianna and Lauren A. Rios; in addition to seven great-grandchildren: Jared Stauss, Evan Normann, Jaiden Normann, Andrew Digilio, Ethan Normann, Kamran and Makenna Hetrick. Of his dozen siblings, Bergitte, Klara, Anna, Norvald, Gudrunn and Astrid also survive him. He and his mischievously sparkling, crystal-blue eyes will be missed by countless other friends and family here and in Norway, namely fellow Sons of Norway Members and local community as well. A Memorial will be held at the Olivebridge firehouse on Dec. 28, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made, as desired, to the Sons of Norway Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made out to: “Zone 4 Scholarship,” and sent to Bjørn Solli, 13 Galway Rd., New Hartford, N.Y., 13413.