Norman Jerome Soland

Norman Jerome Soland passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah. Norm was born April 28, 1927 in Decorah, Iowa to Embert and Louise Soland and was the fifth child of six children, Lucille, Ernest, Donald, Robert, Norman and Eugene. Eugene is the only living sibling.

 

He received his high school diploma and enlisted in United States Army Air Corps after WWII. He would go on to navigate the C54 during the Berlin Airlift of 1948, air rescue in Alaska out of LADD Air Force Base, as well as navigate B-25s out of Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC. In Cheyenne, Wyoming at Warren Air Force Base, Norm worked on and maintained the Atlas Missiles. His last station was also where he began his service, Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. While there he performed maintenance analysis on the B52s.

 

Norm was married to Ann Coolidge of Westfield, Massachusetts, his wife of over 70 years.

 

He retired in 1965 and moved to Lake Villa, Illinois with his wife and seven children. He established and worked a successful landscaping business until 1987 when he retired. During their retirement, Norm and Ann traveled extensively, enjoying international destinations such as Norway, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Scotland. They also traveled domestically to visit family and friends. Hawaii and Don Ho were their favorites! Their 50th Wedding Anniversary was celebrated on the Island of Maui in 2001. After retiring from landscaping, Norm and Ann built and enjoyed living in four different and beautiful homes in Marble, NC; Soldotna, AK; Ancortes, WA; and Trego, MT.

 

Fishing was quite a passion for them, Norm catching a 137 lb. Halibut and Ann, a 55 lb. King Salmon. They both loved music and passed that love onto their children. Today, four of their seven children are accomplished musicians, singers, and song writers; Gary, Bryan, Cindy, and Lisa.

 

Norm is survived by his wife, Ann; his seven children, Linda Sterbenz and husband Jeff of Keytesville, MO; Trudy Soland of Cheyenne, WY; Gary Soland and wife Jody of Clarksville, TN; Cindy Bergh of Boltic, SD; Kathy Titchbourne and husband Robert of Somerset, KY; Lisa Stillwell and husband Deryk of Knoxville, TN; and Bryan Soland of Twin Lakes, WI; and 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

 

Norm’s wife, Ann, wishes to extend appreciation and gratitude to all who cared for Norm during his eight-year residency at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home. It was because of Ann’s nurturing and dedication to Norm as well as his caregivers who contributed to Norm’s longevity that he lived well passed his 95th birthday.