E. Harry Norr

Edwin Harry Norr was born September 15, 1913 in Highland Park, IL to the late Edwin and Jennie (Dahl) Norr. His family moved to Little Falls when he started school and he graduated from Little Falls High School in 1931. Harry began working in 1934 for Minnesota Power and Light - Little Falls Division as a machinist helper at the Blanchard Dam on the Mississippi River. His career with MN Power & Light was interrupted by WW II. Harry joined the US Army on April 23, 1941. He was stationed in Newfoundland and copied secret code being sent to German submarines, ships and aircraft in the Atlantic area. He would copy the German code on a typewriter and then teletype the information to the Pentagon. After the end of WW II, it was revealed the British and Americans had broken the German code and the information proved invaluable. Harry served in Newfoundland for the entire war. While in Newfoundland, he met a beautiful girl, Lois Anthony who was serving in the Canadian Air Force Women’s Division. Upon his discharge from the US Army on Oct. 10, 1945, he resumed his career with MN Power & Light Co. Edwin Harry Norr was united in marriage to Lois A. Anthony on March 1st, 1946 in the Methodist Church in Long Prairie, MN. The couple resided in Long Prairie, MN for seven years and then moved to Little Falls, MN in 1953. Harry progressed rapidly at MN Power & Light in Marketing and Management. He particularly enjoyed being on the company’s Speakers Bureau, speaking about the company activities around the Midwest. He was Assistant District Director at the time of his retirement in 1978. Harry was an active ham radio operator since 1935, first licensed as W9JVP. While the couple were raising their four children, Harry set aside his ham radio activity. In 1988 he was re-licensed as NØJSV and talked to fellow ham operators throughout the US and overseas. Harry had a fantastic memory and was a great story teller and historian. Harry had a life long interest in his Swedish heritage. He served on the Little Falls School Board while the new High School was conceived and completed. Harry was an active member in Masonic Lodge and Rotary and also was a member of VFW and American Legion. Harry was a member of Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls. In 1999, the couple moved to Covenant Village in Golden Valley, MN. E. Harry Norr is survived by his daughter, Catherine (Thomas) Rootness of Eden Prairie, MN; sons, James (Sheri) Norr of San Diego, CA; Paul (Linda) Norr of Edina, MN and Robert Norr of Minnetonka, MN; grandchildren, Erika Rootness, Karla (Scott) Lindblom & John (Dawn) Rootness, Tira (Yoichi) Wakayama & Ryan Norr and David & Kalley Norr; great grandchildren, Dane, Erik & William Johnson, Grace & Evan Rootness, Tyler & Brandon Lindblom and Nixon Wakayama. E. Harry Norr was preceded in death by his wife, Lois on Jan. 22, 2003; parents, Edwin & Jennie Norr; brothers, Carl, Henry, David, Arthur and Herbert; sisters, Marie Bergstrom, Eva Bermel and Ruth Smiglewski. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.

Tributes

E. Harry Norr

September 15, 1913 - December 10, 2008