Norman Kingshill

1932 - 2021

Norman Kingshill
July 15, 1932 - Dec. 17, 2021
Norman Kingshill was born and raised in San Francisco where he attended St. James Elementary and Lowell High School. When he was 17 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was shipped off to Korea and fought in the famous Chosin Reservoir Battle, where he was seriously injured and spent a year in the hospital recovering. Not long after coming home, he married his high school sweetheart Norma Gaudette. They made their home in Pacifica and had 5 children: Margie, Marty, Tom, Sally and Eileen. Norman worked as a carpenter with his father at the general contracting company Kingshill & Sons. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the family in 1967(?) when Norma died of cancer, leaving Norman and the children ages 4-14 to manage without her. Love was right around the corner again for Norman when he met Barbara Munther, his son's teacher. They married and spent 49(?) wonderful years together. They added one more daughter to the family, Susan, who completed the family in the most wonderful way. In 1976 the family moved to Walnut Creek where Norman finally got his dream of living in the sunshine.

Norman was always a fighter. He fought for our country. He fought for his family, always being there whenever they needed him. He fought for people and social justice. He was heavily involved with the Farmworker's Movement, Amnesty International, the Community Action Task Force at the Oakland Cathedral and in later years he tutored at the Next Step Learning Center in Oakland. The toughest fight was yet to come when Barbara was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The love, care and dedication he showed for her during the 10 years he was her caretaker was an amazing example for his family and everyone who knew them. After Barbara succumbed to her disease, Norman moved to San Mateo to be closer to family. In the last six months of his life Norman moved in with his daughter Susan, her husband Brian and grandchildren Annie and Molly. Even though he was suffering with COPD and congestive heart failure, he loved living with them, especially spending quality time with Annie and Molly.

Norman touched so many people throughout his life. His friends were numerous, he had charisma and a sense of fun that drew people to him. There was always a mischievous gleam in his eyes and a smile on his face. His legacy is clear in the way his children love and respect each other and especially him.

Norman was predeceased by his wives: Norma and Barbara; daughter: Margie(Berger); parents: Martin and Margaret Kingshill; sister: Nadine(Johnson).
Norman is survived by his children: Marty, Tom, Sally, Eileen(Buell) and Susan(Donnellan).
Their spouses-Ralph Berger, Laurie McMahon(Kingshill), Debra Kingshill, Dennis Delee, Tracy Buell and Brian Donnellan. Plus 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, his brothers Tom and David and the many family and friends too numerous to list.

The family would like to thank all the staff from Mission Hospice, San Mateo for their support and caring .

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to one of Norman's favorite charities: The Next Step Learning Center in Oakland, Redwood City Catholic Worker House or The Michael J. Fox Foundation. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.