Date of death: 11/20/2017

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1957

Norman Henry Elsner, 86, of Evansville, died November 30, 2017, at Holiday Retirement Village where he lived since April of this year.He was born November 16, 1931, to the late Linus Henry and Marie Helen (Becker) Elsner.He is survived by his brother, Ralph (Mary Helen) Elsner; and his sister, Mary Jane (Don) Holmes, of Overland Park, Kansas. Also survived by 17 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Adeline (and husband Eddie) Barwe; brother, Linus “Bud” (wife, Sally) Elsner; and Mary Jane’s children, Lynn and Dan.Norman always said that his obituary should read: “He was born, he lived a little, then he died. If you knew him, you know what he accomplished. If you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t care”. We could have left it at that, but we thought we might add a bit more. Norman attended high school at St. Meinrad Seminary and graduated from Memorial High School. He graduated from Evansville College and received his Masters Degree at I.U. He was a charter and current member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and a member of the St Vincent De Paul Society. He was stationed in Japan in 1955 to 1956 at the U.S. Army Adjutant General Administration Center and still enjoyed responding with “Domo arigato” at times. He taught English at Glenwood Elementary School from 1957 to 1973 and at Evans from 1973 to 76. Students liked him and remember him. Very recently we were asked by a stranger “did he used to teach at Glenwood?” He was a firm and well liked teacher and he had fond memories of his students and fellow teachers. Life-long friends Bob Rogers and Terry Kuebler are among those. After leaving teaching, Norman joined siblings Bud and Adeline at the family business, Tri-State Bearing Co., working as purchasing agent until he retired at age 85 on Dec. 31, 2016. Norman was an integral part of his extended family and was very generous with his blessings of time, talent and treasure. He took many of his nieces and nephews swimming when they were kids, and he babysat for a number of our kids, even up into his 80s– even subbing at Grandparent’s Day when needed. And he baked a mean holiday pie! Be at peace Uncle Norman- you’ve earned your rest!