Richard Eugene "Gene" Norman

MADISON - Richard Eugene “Gene” Norman, age 84, of Madison Wisconsin passed away from natural causes on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison. He was born on August 21, 1941 in Racine Wisconsin, the son of Loren and Elizabeth (Naysmith) Norman.

Gene graduated from Washington Park High School in Racine and went on to study creative writing, Russian and Slavic languages and economics. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Roosevelt University.

Gene joined the Navel Reserves in 1958 while still in high school. He then went to officer candidate school where he was required to do two weeks of active duty training each year. One time all the ships in Boston Harbor, including Gene’s, were ordered to get underway immediately. Russian missile sites had been discovered in Cuba. Fortunately, the Cuban missile crisis was resolved and Gene was able to return to Boston.

Gene was in active duty with the US Navy from 1966 to 1969. He patrolled the coast of Vietnam for two years and then worked in Washington DC at the naval communications station for his final year.  It was there that he was introduced to IBM computers. That led to a forty-year career in computers as a mainframe software developer. His employers included Blue Cross of Wisconsin, Deluxe Data Systems, Firstar, Dis Corp and Platinum Technology. Gene was part of the team that developed the TYME machine which was one of the first shared ATM networks in the US. At the end of his career Gene was also proud to serve a few years with the state elections board (later renamed the Government Accountability Board), the first statewide voter registration system.

Gene and his former wife, the late Patsy “Shag” Mathews Norman, adopted four children. They were founding members of the Wisconsin Open Door Society. The group was formed to bring adoptive families together and focused on transracial and international adoption.

Gene was a loving companion to Katharine “Kate” Graf for 21 years. They married on October 19, 2014.

Gene had a passion for knowledge, especially scientific, and often read Scientific American from cover to cover. He enjoyed many experiences through a scientific lens and would excitedly share his knowledge with others. His sister Nancy relates how as children they would do the dishes together. While Nancy tried to enjoy Eddie Fisher on the radio, Gene would explain about carrier waves and how music was transmitted to the radio.

In his younger years, Gene enjoyed sailing and was an active member of the Hoofer Sailing Club at UW Madison. He was an avid coin collector and won awards for his collection regarding the Channel Islands in the English Channel.

Gene is survived by his wife, Katharine Graf; sons, David (Nicole) Norman, Joshua (Danielle) Norman and Anthony Norman; daughter, T'Keyah (Tommie) Eason; grandchildren, Elisabeth, Nicholas, Adelaide, Hudson, Takeyah and Nicole Norman; sister, Nancy Norman Green; and nephews, Peter and Chris Green.   

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Thomas “Sandy” Green; aunt Margaret “Madge” Shepherd; and uncle Harold “Taffy” Shepherd.

Gene’s family thanks the VA Hospital staff for their exceptional and always kind care.

Dear Gene, “Fair winds and following seas.”

A celebration of life will take place at JACOBUS PARK, 6501 Hillside Lane, Wauwatosa, from 12 noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with military honors at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin or another organization that promotes social justice.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420