Dr. Steven E. Nord
Born: July 31, 1949 in St. Charles, IL
Died: May 10, 2025 in DeKalb, IL
Dr. Steven E. Nord, 75, of DeKalb, died May 10 at Kishwaukee Hospital after fighting a years-long battle with lung cancer. He was born July 31, 1949 in Saint Charles to Ellwyn and Evelyn (Green) Nord, becoming the youngest of three brothers: Steven, David, and James.
Being very tall, large, and athletic, during his high school years coaches would hound him to join various sports, especially football. Rather than risk his body with organized sports, however, he remained focused on his studies and relegated any sports hero fantasies to his free-time with friends.
Pursuing his studies with the same eagerness he would later bring to his classrooms, he quickly attained his B.S. and M.A. both in Economics from N.I.U. in 1971 and 1972. On December 23, 1972, he married Lynne Hogan, of Aurora, to whom he remained happily married until Lynne's death in 2000.
While working toward his eventual 1977 Ph.D. in Economics from UIUC, Steve taught at several community colleges and the junior high in DeKalb, about which he would later recount hilarious stories from being the football coach. He taught at the University of Miami from 1977-1979 and would later love recounting those days where he could walk around campus with his wife and baby son and see exotic birds and other wildlife.
Despite all of the very prestigious publications and teaching awards over his 35+ years of teaching, nothing is more telling of his life's accomplishments than the impacts he has had on those around him. Over the years, his former students have told his family how much they enjoyed his courses and what he meant to them as a truly gifted professor. Dr. Nord would always try to interject his dry, pessimistic humor into lectures and include stories about his lifetime of research, personal anecdotes, and extensive historical knowledge.
Throughout his life, Steve worked very diligently and he was equally as enthused in planning family vacations and long road-trips. National Lampoon could take notes on how many stops, sites, events, and schedules he could fit into one simple trip. These generally culminated with seeing either his brother Jim or Dave in Colorado, Missouri, or New Mexico.
His favorite trip, by far, was in the summer of 1990 when he taught at Cambridge University in the U.K. and brought his family. He loved exploring various towns, bookstores, visiting Edinburgh, and even an ill-fated jaunt to Paris in the 104 degree summer.
More recently, he has driven with his wife to see the various lighthouses of the Midwest and New England. After being together for 22 years, he married Paulette Magnuson on February 14, 2023. Since the early 2000's, Steve's passion has been in being a grandfather to his second wife's grandchildren. Nothing made him beam more than playing and interacting with them, attending children's functions, and in giving life and career advice to them.
Steve was preceded in death by his father and mother, his first wife, Lynne, his brother James (Ava), and his sister-in-law Rachel (David). He is survived by his wife, Paulette Magnuson, of DeKalb, son, Scott, of DeKalb, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Since a young age, Steve was a deeply religious person, though not always public about his beliefs. He had personally taken it on himself since the 1950's after a friend's death to unravel the mysteries of the spirit. His religious beliefs brought him and his family solace as his disease progressed. He often likened his life to an odyssey and himself to a protagonist who needs to weather the storms of the world to arise victorious.
I know of no one who has endured and achieved more with such an attitude of humility, love, and service of others. Dad, may your example echo in the hearts and minds of all those whom have known you.
There will be no service nor gravesite.
Arrangements were completed by the Butala Funeral Home in Sycamore, IL. To sign the online guest book or share a special memory, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com