Norman Noorda

Dr. Norman Noorda, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on November 18, 2022, with his eternal companion at his side, and surrounded by family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Janie Sharon (Datwyler) Noorda, and his children Carey (Cindy) Noorda, Stephanie (Ron) Rodriguez, Todd (Lisa) Noorda, Joni (Jeff) Davis, Jeff (Sherry) Noorda, Brett (Valerie) Noorda, and Jennifer (Don) Hall. He is also survived by three brothers; LaMar, Leon and Danny Noorda.

Norm was born to Dutch-immigrant parents Hilbertus Noorda & Anna Albertina Sieverts on April 5, 1930, in Salt Lake City, UT. He was the third of eight children, and had a wonderful and adventurous childhood alongside his siblings. After graduating from South High School in Salt Lake City in 1948, Norm was called to serve for 2 1/2 years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the country of his parents’ birth, the Netherlands. When Norman returned home from his mission, he was almost immediately drafted into the US Army, and he returned to Europe where he was stationed in Germany for 3 years. Upon completion of his military service, Norman returned home to Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah. It was during this time that he met a green-eyed beauty in a pile of snow at the bottom of a ski hill. His two blue eyes looked into her two green eyes, and the rest is history! He and Janie Sharon Datwyler were married and sealed on April 20, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple. They began their own family shortly thereafter with the birth of a son in 1957. Upon graduation from the University of Utah in 1958, the family moved to Chicago where Norm attended the Northwestern University School of Dentistry, graduating in 1962. in 1963, after a short time back in Salt Lake City, Norm and Sharon and their small family settled in Las Vegas. Over the next 38 years the now Doctor Noorda practiced caring dentistry and treated thousands of patients, many of whom became lifelong friends. After retiring from dental practice in the year 2000, he returned to missionary service. With his sweetheart by his side as his missionary companion, Elder and Sister Noorda accepted a call to serve for two years as Public Affairs Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ in West Africa. They were based in Accra, Ghana, but traveled throughout West Africa, and came to truly love and be loved by the beautiful people they met and served there. In 2002 Norm and Sharon returned home to Las Vegas, and settled into a quiet life of retirement, hobbies, and enjoying their ever-growing family.

Norm and Sharon raised 7 children—4 boys and 3 girls—who then married to provide them 7 in-law children, 30 grandchildren, and (at current count) 14 in-law grandchildren. They have been additionally blessed with 41 great grandchildren, and with the recent announcement of another great grandchild on the way, Norm and Sharon now have a total posterity of 100!

During his almost 60 years in Las Vegas, Norm served in many capacities within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Elders Quorum President, Young Men President, Bishop, Stake Presidency Counselor, and Temple Worker. His favorite calling though, was serving as Sharon’s Assistant at Girls Camp in Kolob, Utah, every summer for nearly 20 years.

Norm also served more than 40 years in the Boy Scouts of America, where he personally influenced the lives of countless young men by taking them on campouts, lake activities, skiing adventures, and incredible scuba diving activities to Catalina Island. He ultimately served as a District Commissioner in the Boulder Dam Area Council, and was instrumental in the planning and development of The Spencer W. Kimball Scout Reservation on Mt. Potosi, just west of Las Vegas. Because of his years of dedicated service in Scouting, he was honored with the distinguished Silver Beaver Award.

Among the many titles he wore throughout his life, Norm’s favorites were husband, sweetheart, dad, daddy, and grandpa. While he was also known to many as Doctor Noorda, Bishop Noorda, or President Noorda, the title most people used affectionately for him was “Uncle Norm.”

To state it mildly, Norm always lived life to the fullest! He enjoyed anything with wheels, that went fast, and made a lot of noise and dust. He raced motorcycles and dune buggies for years (and has the scars to prove it). He enjoyed skiing (on either water or snow), boats, and even flew hang gliders for a few years (until Mom put a stop to that!). In between, he regularly found time for golf (often more than 3 times a week!), and had the honor of singing and touring with the Desert Chorale.

Despite all of his hobbies, Norm was always able to find time to be a devoted husband and a doting father, and he is beloved for it! We all look up to Dad for his incredible zeal for life, for his astounding devotion to his family and Church, and for his valiant example of living according to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents, Hilbertus Noorda and Anna Albertina Sieverts; his brothers, Albert Noorda and Ronald Noorda; and his sisters, Viola Ward and Naoma Nilsson.

All memorial services for Norm will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 7670 S Bruce Street, Las Vegas, NV 89123, November 25-26. Viewings will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday, November 25, and from 9:30-10:30am on Saturday, November 26. Then at 11:00am on Saturday, the Funeral Services will be held. All who wish to celebrate the amazing life of Norman Noorda with us are invited to attend. Further information and also a livestream of the services will be available by visiting the Palm Mortuary website at DignityMemorial.com, and search for Noorda.