Obituary: Mary Jo (Morrell) Nordness - Class of 1937

MADISON - Mary Jo Nordness, age 86, died peacefully at Meriter Rehabilitation Center on Saturday, July 2, 2005. Born in Madison, on Nov. 24, 1918, to Samuel and Marie Morrell, she was the second of eight daughters. A graduate of Madison Central High School, she also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mary Jo and Orvin (Orv) Nordness Sr. married on June 17, 1944. Mary Jo worked for many years at Dane County Social Services and later at the University of Wisconsin Survey Research Laboratory. Orv and Mary Jo cherished a 55 year long friendship with three couples, she will be greatly missed at their card games and annual New Year's Eve dinner. Mary Jo was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be deeply mourned by her husband, Orvin; her sons, Orvin "Skip" (Alicia) Nordness Jr. and Craig (Jane) Nordness; grandchildren, Eric, Amy and Anne Nordness; her sister, Peg Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews. Her parents and six sisters preceded her in death. A memorial service will be held in her honor at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, on Saturday, July 16, 2005, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Bethel Lutheran Church's music ministry or the Bethel Food Pantry. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Centers 7435 University Ave. (608) 831-6761

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 5, 2005

The class year for Mary Jo (Morrell) Nordness is based on information in the 1937 edition of The Orange and Black yearbook, where she is shown as a June graduate.