Norman Edward Algert

On November 8, 1936, Norman Edward Algert ("Norm") was born to Helga and Edward Algert, in Glendale, California. He grew up in Chula Vista, California and after one year of college, he volunteered for the draft and was assigned to the US Army as a mortar gunner for two years in Manheim, Germany.

After the army, he attended the University of Arizona Pharmacy School and spent the next 50 years as a pharmacist. At the University of Arizona he met his future wife, Nancy Sanders. They married in 1961 and spent the next 64 years together.

After graduation from pharmacy school, Norm and Nancy moved to San Diego, California with their daughter who was born in Tucson. Two additional daughters were born while in San Diego, and Norm began his career as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager. In 1974, when the pharmacy approached Norm about relocating to Houston, Texas to help them open a store there, he jumped at the chance. Houston would put Norm and Nancy about halfway between their parents' residences in California and Georgia, and would make visiting both sets of families a little easier. Norm often joked that moving to Houston was quite an adjustment because he had lived with little to no humidity in Southern California and Southern Arizona for the vast majority of his adult life.

He worked hard opening and running the pharmacy in Houston, and put his three children through college so that no child had any college debt to pay after graduation.

With all of the children "launched" he semi-retired in and moved with Nancy to April Sound in Montgomery, Texas. They bought a house on the golf course where Norm could finally relax a bit, work less, and play more golf.

Norm and Nancy soon joined St. Mary's church and became life-long friends with many other St. Mary's church members. Norm so liked the priest at St. Mary's, Father Ed, that Norm made the significant decision to convert to Catholicism.

Always an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, he climbed Mt. Whitney 3 times and visited several national parks during his life time. He passed along his love of hiking and the outdoors to his children all of whom share this passion. He loved spending time with his family and walking the dog.

Norm was a gentle, humble, kind, and generous man. He had a smile for everyone. He never spoke ill or negatively about another person and he never complained. He spent his life always trying to do the next best and right thing for his family and others, including his decision to begin going to AA Meetings to gain and maintain sobriety. With the help of AA, the support of the AA community, and his family, Norm became sober officially on July 4, 1985 and was sober for over 40 years at the time of his death. Every 4th of July he felt like the whole country was celebrating his sobriety.

He was a great, caring husband and father. He loved his girls with all of his heart and often joked he was surrounded by women.

In his last 8 years, Norm was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Nancy and the children were so grateful he remembered them throughout his time with this illness. He enjoyed spending time at the Gathering Place at First Methodist Church in Conroe, Texas, and called the Gathering Place his favorite place. He enjoyed making up songs and singing to those around him.

On May 18, 2025, Norm died from pneumonia exacerbated by Alzheimer's. He died peacefully in his sleep at home with his family.

Norm is preceded in death by grandson Travis Arlin Strand.

Norm will forever be missed by his wife of nearly 64 years, Nancy, and by his daughters Kristen Algert of Austin, Texas; Nance Algert and her spouse Kenita Rogers of Austin, Texas, and Alison Strand of Spring, Texas.

A special thanks to Heart to Heart Hospice for their kindness and their care and to Trisha Whitmire, his favorite care-giver. Also a special thanks to the VA who provided so much support to Norm and his care especially in these last years.

His funeral will take place at his long time church, St. Mary's in Plantersville, Texas, on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. The family requests that those who wish to acknowledge Norm's death do so by a donation to a charity of their choice.