Obituary for Liddell Joseph Nordrum
Liddell (Lid) Joseph Nordrum, age 92, a resident of Grantsburg, passed away on January 9, 2023.
Lid was born on May 10, 1930 to Joseph & Lena (Arendt) Nordrum on Nordrum Road in Douglas County Wisconsin, Lid spent his early years there before they moved to the family farm in Pine City, MN. He attended Milburn School until his graduation from the eighth grade, after which he dabbled in trucking: hauling both milk and pulp wood. He enlisted in the U. S. Army from 1951 to 1953 where he spent time overseas in Germany. Lid has been a proud Army Veteran and member of The American Legion for over 60 years.
Following his Army enlistment, he worked for Barton Construction where he was part of the world paving record for a single day of pouring the most miles of concrete freeway, while building I-35 from Minneapolis to Duluth. After all these years, he still remembered his dump truck number, 906.
In 1959, Liddell married Jeannette Cross which brought to him his son Dwight (Ike). Throughout the course of their 33-year marriage, they lived in Minnesota, California, and Colorado where Lid hosted a multitude of careers ranging from building homes, to law enforcement, to running a garage. In 1990 he moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to his, now, adult son and family.
In 1992 Lid united with Mary Drevecky until her passing in March, 2006.
Lid’s last 15 years were spent with his best buddy, his dog, Bubba. He took him everywhere until he was put down in December, 2022. He said, “Even on his last night, Bubba was protecting the house. He barked in the middle of the night knowing something was outside. He was a good dog, even on his last night”.
Lid enjoyed most in life spending time with his son, daughter-in-law, and his granddaughters and more recently with his great-grandson & great-granddaughter. He was always happy to share his stories with anyone who would listen, and even happier to share how proud he was of his family and their accomplishments. Most days you could find him working on his tractors or visiting his nephews’ farms in Pine City.
Lid is preceded in death by both his parents; brothers, Omar, Daniel, Norman, Jim, and Jay Paul; and sisters, Marlys, Maida, and Carol; step-grandson, Derek Rootkie.
Liddell is survived by his sisters, Gloria Barry, Doris (Roger) Rosenquist, and Janie (Tom) Griep; son, Ike (Terry) Nordrum; granddaughters, Michelle (Chris) Jerina & Tracey Porter; and great grandchildren, Stanley and Sophie Jerina; step-children, Dale Vesely, Jody (Pete) Spychalla, Julie Olesen; step-grandchildren, Brittany Prokott, Colton Hecht, Haven Spychalla & MacKenzie Olesen; 3 step-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on May 6, 2023 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at The Foxhole - American Legion Brask Fossum Post 185 (108 N Oak St, Grantsburg, WI 54840).
Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com
Lid was born on May 10, 1930 to Joseph & Lena (Arendt) Nordrum on Nordrum Road in Douglas County Wisconsin, Lid spent his early years there before they moved to the family farm in Pine City, MN. He attended Milburn School until his graduation from the eighth grade, after which he dabbled in trucking: hauling both milk and pulp wood. He enlisted in the U. S. Army from 1951 to 1953 where he spent time overseas in Germany. Lid has been a proud Army Veteran and member of The American Legion for over 60 years.
Following his Army enlistment, he worked for Barton Construction where he was part of the world paving record for a single day of pouring the most miles of concrete freeway, while building I-35 from Minneapolis to Duluth. After all these years, he still remembered his dump truck number, 906.
In 1959, Liddell married Jeannette Cross which brought to him his son Dwight (Ike). Throughout the course of their 33-year marriage, they lived in Minnesota, California, and Colorado where Lid hosted a multitude of careers ranging from building homes, to law enforcement, to running a garage. In 1990 he moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to his, now, adult son and family.
In 1992 Lid united with Mary Drevecky until her passing in March, 2006.
Lid’s last 15 years were spent with his best buddy, his dog, Bubba. He took him everywhere until he was put down in December, 2022. He said, “Even on his last night, Bubba was protecting the house. He barked in the middle of the night knowing something was outside. He was a good dog, even on his last night”.
Lid enjoyed most in life spending time with his son, daughter-in-law, and his granddaughters and more recently with his great-grandson & great-granddaughter. He was always happy to share his stories with anyone who would listen, and even happier to share how proud he was of his family and their accomplishments. Most days you could find him working on his tractors or visiting his nephews’ farms in Pine City.
Lid is preceded in death by both his parents; brothers, Omar, Daniel, Norman, Jim, and Jay Paul; and sisters, Marlys, Maida, and Carol; step-grandson, Derek Rootkie.
Liddell is survived by his sisters, Gloria Barry, Doris (Roger) Rosenquist, and Janie (Tom) Griep; son, Ike (Terry) Nordrum; granddaughters, Michelle (Chris) Jerina & Tracey Porter; and great grandchildren, Stanley and Sophie Jerina; step-children, Dale Vesely, Jody (Pete) Spychalla, Julie Olesen; step-grandchildren, Brittany Prokott, Colton Hecht, Haven Spychalla & MacKenzie Olesen; 3 step-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on May 6, 2023 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at The Foxhole - American Legion Brask Fossum Post 185 (108 N Oak St, Grantsburg, WI 54840).
Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com