Norm was born and raised in Broadford-in the Boot-Tip of Virginia surrounded by the Chilhowee Mountains and the Holsten River. He moved to Lincoln, NE in 1950 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. He played football and was on the 1952 and 1954 State Championship teams. Norm married Marlene (Ficke) in 1957. He was proud to establish Ford and Ford Auctioneers, where he was the President, Auctioneer for 50+ years, and the Real Estate Broker for the company. He partnered with his son, Greg Ford, and they worked together for 30+ years. Greg will continue to own and operate the business. In the past 10 years, he and Marlene have enjoyed wintering at their home in Arizona.
Norm enjoyed all kinds of music and was a great dancer. He always had a large garden, enjoyed watching the birds, hunting, fishing, and spending time outside. He was honest, kind, generous, and humble. He was a mentor, leader and was a source of personal strength to the family. He would always say, “I really am just a hillbilly kid from Virginia”.
Norm will be dearly missed and is survived by his wife Marlene; children Julie Ford, Greg (Annette) Ford, Linda Handke, and Rusty (Penny) Ford; son-in-law Tom Dolnicek (Nancy Williams); grandchildren Philip (Jenny) Handke, Garrett Handke (Katy Holmquist), Dana Handke, Jill Dolnicek, Peter Dolnicek (Claire Soave), Christian Dolnicek, Nicholas Dolnicek, Josie Ford, Ella Ford, Phoebe Ford, and great grandson Thomas Handke, son of Philip and Jenny Handke; Aunt Eleanor Carter and her family in VA; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by his mother Blanche Ford-Janak, sister Madge, in-laws Ed and Elsie Ficke, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Celebration of Life service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday (11-27-21) at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive (1 Block South of 40th & Yankee Hill Rd), with Pastor Jeff Scheich of Christ Lincoln officiating. Private family inurnment.
No visitation/cremation.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Friends of Madera Canyon, Arizona, P. O. Box 1203, Green Valley, AZ 85622-1203 (https://friendsofmaderacanyon.org/donate/ or National Wild Turkey Federation https://your.nwtf.org/donate/
Pay it forward in kindness and mentorship.