Norman Corwine Obituary

Norman Denton Corwine, a 54-year resident of Colorado Springs, passed away from a stroke on April 4, 2013, while visiting family in Amsterdam, Missouri. Norman was born, the eldest of four children, on the family farm in Bates County, Missouri, on September 30, 1924, to Horroll and Fern (nee Hughes) Corwine. After graduating from high school in 1942, he volunteered for the U.S. Marines. During WWII, he served as a teletype machine repairman and spent time in Los Angeles and Hawaii, then Okinawa. For one year after the war, Norman was stationed in Saipan, China, and was honorably discharged in 1946 as a corporal. In 1946, Norman married his true love, Nadine Gregory of Amsterdam, MO. The couple moved to Hastings, Nebraska, later to Lindsborg, Kansas, and finally to Colorado Springs in 1958, where Norman got a job at the brand new Air Force Academy as an electrician. He retired from that position in 1983. A few days before his passing, Norman had flown to Amsterdam, MO, to be at the bedside of his critically ill, younger brother, Nason. Nason passed away from COPD on Friday, March 29, 2013. Norman then spent two days regaling the family with humorous stories of his childhood and siblings. He fell unconscious from the stroke on Easter night, then passed away the following Thursday without regaining consciousness. Norman is best known for his strength and kindness. He was devoted to wife and family and especially enjoyed babies and children. He was a master storyteller and humorist. Throughout his lifetime, he demonstrated a keen interest in electricity, alternate forms of energy, farming, and Chinese culture. This loving man will be sorely missed, and as one family member expressed it, "It was an honor to have known this man, much less be related to him." He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years; his parents; a sister, Nina Hockett of Adrian, MO; and Nason. Norman is survived by one sister, Naomi Kershner of Independence, MO; two daughters, Vicki Kinzie (Gary) of Longmont, CO, and Valerie Foiles (David) of Colorado Springs; and one son, Mitchell (Deb) of Montrose, CO; six grandchildren, Gabe Kinzie (Sandy), Desa Blair (Darrell), Carrie Wilson (Adam), Valerie Kinzie, Victor Snyder (Norma), Megan Dillon (Martin), Nicholas Foiles, Kelsey Foiles; and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 11:00 A.M., at Swan-Law Chapel.