Glenn Nording

Nording, Glenn Jerome MADISON - Glenn Jerome Nording, age 83, beloved Father, Husband, Brother, Coach, Teacher and Fightingest Fighter, lost his courageous, hard- fought bout with Alzheimers Disease on Saturday, August 29, 2009, while in the loving care of his devoted daughter and son-in-law, Lori (Nording) and Ken Olszewski. Glenn was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years Patricia Anne Nording and his parents, Thorval and Josephine Nording,. He is survived by his son Stephen (Mary) Nording, his daughter Lori (Ken) Olszewski, and his son Jay Nording. He is survived by his only sister Maxine (James) Chamberlain and five nieces and nephews. Glenn was born in Edgerton, Wisconsin, on August 12, 1926 to Thorval and Josephine (Olson) Nording. He graduated from East High School in 1943, and entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison that fall. He was eligible for varsity boxing competition since freshmen came under the war ruling of the Big Ten Conference. He boxed at 165 pounds and won the Contenders and All University Tournament in 1943. He participated in three varsity matches that year, drawing one and losing two. Both losses were suffered at the hands of a Milwaukee veteran fighting on the Iowa Pre-Flight school and the Ottumwa Naval Air school teams, composed of amateur and Golden Gloves fighters. These were two of the strongest boxing teams the UW team faced that year. Glenn won his first major "W" letter in Boxing that year at age 17. After completing his freshman year, Glenn entered the United State Navy in November, 1944. He boxed at boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Center and was 10th Division champion at 165 pounds. This was his only try at boxing during his military service. He served on the U.S.S. Cross and was honorably discharged in July, 1946 as an Electrician's Mate, third class. He was awarded an Asiatic Pacific Ribbon for serving in the Pacific theatre. Glenn returned to the University of Wisconsin- Madison in the fall of 1946 and boxed as a member of the 1947, 1948 and 1949 undefeated teams. The 1947 and 1948 boxing teams were NCAA National Champions. Glenn was the "Fightingest Fighter" trophy winner on the Badger boxing team in 1949 and was undefeated in four varsity fights his senior year. Fighting at 155 pounds he defeated boxers from Penn State and Minnesota. Fighting at 165 pounds he defeated boxers from Washington State and San Jose. He was a three year major "W" letter winner in Boxing in 1943-44, 1947-48, and 1948-49. During his four years of boxing for Wisconsin Glenn fought at 155, 165, and 175 pounds. His biggest boxing thrill was his one round KO over a man from Miami during the 1948 season. Glenn was a huge favorite of the fans that packed the sold-out UW Field House for his fights because of his fighting style and growing up in Madison. The local sports writers described him as relentless, capable of delivering and taking a good hit, and fighting with great heart. Glenn also played on Wisconsin's junior varsity baseball team and its lightweight football team while at UW-Madison. Glenn graduated from the School of Education in 1950, majoring in Physical Education. He began teaching at Oregon High School, in Oregon, Wisconsin, following his graduation and became the new Athletic Director and head coach that year. Glenn married Patricia Anne Wundrow of Madison Wisconsin on March 24, 1951, and they enjoyed a short honeymoon at the Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee, WI, before Glenn returned to his coaching duties. Glenn coached at Oregon High School until 1952. In 1952 Glenn began teaching and coaching at Middleton High School, Middleton, Wisconsin. He was Middleton's head boys basketball coach for 15 years. His biggest basketball coaching thrill was leading his 1955 boy\'s basketball team to the 40th Wisconsin State Basketball Tournament. This was Middleton's first WIAA state tournament berth since 1937. Coach Nording\'s team advanced to the semifinals in a thrilling come from behind upset victory over Shorewood winning 77-72. His team played its heart out in the semifinal game against heavily favorite Monroe but was defeated. Glenn taught and coached at Middleton for 37 years, retiring in 1989. While at Middleton, Glenn taught primarily physical education and driver education, served as Middleton's Athletic Director for 12 years, and served as head or assistant coach in football, baseball, boys track, wrestling, boys golf and girls golf. While serving as Middleton's Athletic Director, Glenn was elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. Coach Nording fondly remembers all the teams he coached and his players. His coaching thrills included Middleton football teams he coached under head coach and close friend Otto Breitenbach winning two Badger Conference Football Championships. During his early years at Middleton Coach Nording taught swimming at Camp Indianola and assisted his close friend Vern Woodward in running the Little Badgers boxing program started by Coach John Walsh. Many parents sent their sons to Coach Nording to learn how to box, develop confidence and good sportsmanship, and stand up to the neighborhood bully. Glenn also earned his Master Of Science Education degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1957. For many years Coach Nording coordinated Middleton's punt, pass and kick competition, coached little league baseball, and organized the recreation for the Shriners' annual summer picnics. Coach Nording took tremendous joy and pride in the accomplishments of his students and student athletes, while enjoying a lifetime commitment to coaching, teaching and helping others. He was especially proud of his former student athletes, including Avitas Ripp of Richland Center, WI and Pete Olson of Madison La Follete, who went on to coach and teach as he had. He frequently attended his players' graduations, weddings, class reunions and funerals. Oregon High School's class of 1951 invited Glenn as an honored guest at their 55th anniversary, and he was an honored guest of Middleton's 1953 championship football team at their 50th reunion. Glenn was also honored to serve as a Parade Marshall for the Middleton Good Neighbor Festival. Three generations of Middleton and Verona student drivers were taught class room and behind-the-wheel driver's education by "Drivers Glenn", while experiencing first hand his exceptional patience and nerves of steel. Glenn enjoyed most sports and recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, swimming, golfing, bowling, and curling. He passed on his love of sports and recreational activities to his children, his students, and the children he coached. He liked hunting dogs and keeping a good lawn and a garden, but having a dog and a good lawn would sometimes conflict. After retirement he took up curling and became an accomplished curler. His senior men's curling team reached the United States Curling Association Senior Nationals in 1998 and 2002, winning national Championships in 1998 in Chicago Illinois and 2002 in St. Paul Minnesota. His curling team won the Senior Men's Wisconsin Curling Championship in 2001 in Medford, Wisconsin. Coach Nording lived life with passion. His legacy is love for family and friends, heart, teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, fair competition, and hard work. His mindset was to find the good in each person. Glenn could see the good and potential in a person and then he would help that person achieve their best potential. Glenn maintained a life long commitment to Christ and Church, staying involved in church committees and church related activities at Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Middleton Community Church, and lastly Lake Edge United Church of Christ. He enjoyed his Summer family vacations at Church Camp Balsams on Big Bass Lake, near Eagle River, Wisconsin. His love and devotion as Husband and Father were his most important lifetime contributions.A Memorial Service will be held at LAKE EDGE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 4200 Buckeye Rd., Madison at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2009 with the Rev. Lisa Schoenwetter presiding. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2009. Glenn\'s family would like to give their heartfelt thanks to their relatives and friends in the Middleton, Madison and Milwaukee communities for their concern, help, and support. In lieu of flowers, Glenn's family requests memorials to the Middleton- Cross Plains Area School District, 7106 South Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 829-9000, for the purpose of creating a scholarship fund in the name of Glenn Nording and his family. Please join Glenn's family in recognizing Glenn's active, long-time commitment to his students and student athletes by establishing this scholarship fund. It is Coach Nording's desire that this scholarship fund should be used to provide an annual memorial scholarship to a graduating senior student athlete selected by Middleton High School's scholarship committee, with input from the faculty, who will be continuing her or his education at any college, university or vocational/technical school. My dearest Wife Patricia:Now you will feel no rain,For we will forever be shelter for the other,Now you will feel no cold,For we will forever be warmth to the other,Now there is no more loneliness,For each of us will forever be companion to the other,We are two souls,With one eternal life before us,Our eternal life together will be good, as our days upon this earth were long and good. Gunderson WestFuneral & Cremation Centers Memorials: In lieu of flowers, Glenn's family requests memorials to the Middleton- Cross Plains Area School District, 7106 South Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 829-9000, for the purpose of creating a scholarship fund in the name of Glenn Nording and his family. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2009. Service: A Memorial Service will be held at LAKE EDGE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 4200 Buckeye Rd., Madison at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2009 with the Rev. Lisa Schoenwetter presiding.