Tuesday, August 31, 2010

David Noren

Dave was born in Chicago on April, 24, 1949, the elder son of Gustav Albert and Adelle M. Noren. He graduated from Esmond School in 1963 and Morgan Park High School in 1967. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign / Urbana, Chicago City Colleges, Columbia College and was about halfway through the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry at North Park Theological Seminary when declining health caused him to drop out. 


Dave held a variety of interesting jobs during his life: assembling telescopes for Hobbycraft Company, serving as a guard at the Field Museum, Andy Frain Usher, WLS-TV in Chicago, Utility and Horder’s Office Supply, briefly worked undercover for the Chicago Police Department, and finally Chicago Stationers, where he was a salesman. When multiple sclerosis made it impossible for him to work, he nevertheless did volunteer work through Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.


In his free time, Dave loved being involved in theater. He had lead roles in several high school plays, and then got involved in Showcase Community Theater in Blue Island.He was also an avid Thunderbolts and White Sox fan and organized fantasy baseball leagues. He and Dennis Carlson planned a number of high school class reunions. In the last year or so he and Dave hosted “pizza and bad movie night’ at his house on a regular basis.

Dave married Edith “Dee” Ullstam in 1979. They had two children, Eric (Ami) and Mary. The marriage ended in divorce in 1995. Dave is also survived by this brother and sister, Andrew and Carol Noren, his grandchildren Dylan and Samantha Noren, his aunt and uncle, Carol and Carl DeVries, and other extended family.

Trinity was also a significant part of Dave’s extended family. Dave loved the church and freely shared his many gifts in the community of faith. Over the years Dave taught Sunday School, headed the Deacon Board, chaired Covenant Men, was co-chair of the congregation, did after-school tutoring, nursing home visitation, wrote a regular column for the newsletter and read the Scriptures every Sunday that he was well enough to be in worship. His deep faith, sense of humor and optimistic spirit were a blessing and encouragement to everyone.

Reading this bio helped me to know Dave a bit better. I only knew Dave for a few years. It helped me to be inspired to get back to volunteering as I did before my children were born. Thanks, Dave, you are still helping others.....me, for one.

Julie Marschand