Arthur L. Normand

Munising

Arthur L. Normand, age 91, of Munising, died on Friday afternoon, December 15, 2017 at the Oscar G. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan.  He was born on February 6, 1926 in Marquette to Arthur and Helen (Roberts) Normand.  After graduating from high school, Art joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1944 to 1946.  He went to work at Atlas Plywood in Munising and it was there where he met Vivian “Vee” Graves.  They were married on October 29, 1949 and together raised their three children.   Art and Vee were married nearly sixty years when she preceded him in death on July 17, 2009.  Art worked at Kimberly Clark from August of 1955 until he retired on January 1, 1989.  He worked in the Finishing Room, Sulphite Department, Pilot Plant, and Specialties Department.  While working at the mill, he also worked in the woods for Graves Logging.  Art was instrumental in the construction of the Munising Baptist Church in Wetmore and was a longtime member.  He also was a past member of the Faith Baptist Church.  Art and his best friend, Skeeter Lindeblad, enjoyed taking trips on the backroads visiting family and friends.  He had a lot of special times with his son, Brian, that were cherished by both of them.  Art was proud to have been on Mission IX of the U.P. Honor Flight and he was a member of the American Legion.    Art always had a vegetable garden, enjoyed spending time at hunting camp with his sons and grandsons, and striking up conversations with family and friends about the history of the Upper Peninsula and different wars.

He is survived by two children – Brian (Marlayn “Mars” Hering) Normand and Denise (David) Whitaker of Hancock, MI; special daughters-in-law – Carol Lakosky and Marlene Bancroft; grandchildren – Brian (Bobbie), Chris (Jill), Jesse (David), Tanya (Colton), Shonda (Danny Lester), Jerrymiah (Emily), Zakerry (Anessah), Solomon, Derek (Evelyn) and Nicole (Mike); numerous great-grandchildren; in-laws – Hilda Graves, Donald (Judy) Graves, Mary Sanders, Pat (Rod) Ward, and Stella Graves; numerous nieces and nephews; wonderful neighbors – Bill and Beth Riordan, Sue Roberts, and Joe and Peggy Hillier; and special friends of the family Phil Bowers and Steve Nichols.  Art was preceded in death by his parents, wife Vee, his son Art Normand on January 12, 2000, and sisters Mary Ames and Joyce Beauchaine.

Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.    Art’s funeral service will be held on Friday, December 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Munising Baptist Church in Wetmore.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising  where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors on Friday, June 8, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.