Dr. Frank "Doc" Norden

Dr. Frank “Doc” Norden, 100, died May 23, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. A graveside committal service will be held Tuesday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, with lunch following at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. The family requests memorials be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan Center or charity of choice. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon is assisting with arrangements.
Frank was born October 2, 1914 in Stutsman County, ND, the only son of Frank and Alma Graves Norden. He was christened Francis Wilson. Frank was educated in country school and in Woodworth and Jamestown, ND schools. He attended Wahpeton (ND) School of Science and Jamestown (ND) College. Frank graduated in 1939 from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL.
He chose to practice optometry in Waukon from 1940-1943 and 1946-1986. From 1943-1946, he served in the U.S. Navy as the commanding officer of an ocean-going tugboat. Frank married Gertrude Sanders of Postville April 10, 1941. They had two daughters.
Frank loved sports. As a boy, he played Legion baseball, and watched Negro League baseball players, including Satchel Paige. In high school, he played on the state champion football team. In college, he played in the first American-style football game in Canada, and played basketball against the Harlem Globetrotters. As an adult, he fished and golfed, and in 1996, at age 82, made a hole-in-one at the Waukon Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed inventing things, including one item that he marketed.
Frank served his community in Kiwanis Club, Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce, and served terms on the school board. He was a devoted member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and served as president of the church board of trustees.
Frank and Gertrude moved to Onalaska, WI in 2002 to be near their daughter. In 2014, after Gertrude’s death, he returned to Waukon to reside at Evergreen Court.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, his parents, three sisters, two nieces and a nephew. He is survived by his daughters, Kristen of Washington, DC and Margaret of La Crosse, WI; two nieces and a nephew; and numerous great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. Frank leaves relatives in the United States, Canada and Sweden.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.