Vance R. Nordby

Vance R. Nordby, 95, died on October 17th, 2015 at the Cheyenne Mountain Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born on April 30th 1920 to Edward and Florence Nordby in Duluth Minnesota.

After graduating from high school in 1938 in Minnesota, he moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota to learn a trade from his uncle, Bert Nordby, who had an upholstery shop there. He met his future wife, Bernadine (Bunny) Brenna in Grand Forks and they married in November 15th, 1940. Their daughter Saundra was born in 1941. That year he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier. He flew 47 missions in the Pacific Theater and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. When the war ended he was eager to return to his wife and daughter, but remained in the reserves and achieved the rank of Major. He continued to pilot small civilian aircraft until he had a close call over Fergus Falls, Minnesota when Bunny put a stop to it. He told many riveting stories to his children and grandchildren about his experiences.

After the war ended, he moved his family to Mankato, Minnesota to establish his own business, Nordby Upholstery. Three more children were born in Mankato. In 1958, the family moved to Denver, Colorado where Vance established Nordby Interiors. Throughout most his life, he was an upholsterer, furniture refinisher and interior decorator. He retired at 80, when he and Bunny moved to Colorado Springs to be near their daughters.

He became a hobby woodworker and was always building something. He was an avid gardener, and loved to paint. He had served his community as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader in the 1950s and 60’s, and remained an avid outdoorsman. A self-taught musician, he played several instruments by ear. During the depression, he got hold of a guitar. Having time (but no money) he figured out how to play it. Eventually, he played tenor guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and piano; Vance loved to perform for his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bunny, his sister Pat, and brother, Wayne.

He is survived by his children, Saundra (Dick) Lee, Larry (Amy) Nordby, Marilyn (Brad) Kuhn, and Tamara (Jim) Kirk , seven grandchildren, Todd, Christa, Annie, Kari, Jessica, Kate and Ian, 10 greatgrandchildren, Adam, Lisa, Michael, Kayli, Henry, Ander, Sam, Annabel, Elsa, and Annie. He was loved and will be missed by all of us.

His family would like to thank Pastor Mark Patzke at First Lutheran Church for listening to and visiting our dad in his home for so many years, and Linda Linden, who was his personal care provider, great listener, and friend for the past 8 months; without you we just could not have managed.

Private family services will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery on Friday, October 23rd.