Norman K. Duerr, 81, of LaPorte, died Nov. 19, 2013, at his home.
He was born in Chicago on Jan. 2, 1932, to Charles C. and Vierlyn (Clough) Duerr.
Norman graduated from Senn High School in Chicago and attended Wright Junior College and Northwestern University. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, stationed part of the time in Japan. He worked as an accountant and computer programmer in the Chicago area and moved to LaPorte in 1969. He worked for various companies in the area, including Teledyne, Levine’s and LaPorte Transit. He volunteered in the community for Fort La Play Porte, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, and READ LaPorte County Inc. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and was a member of its choir and handbell choir for many years. He enjoyed music, starting with piano lessons from his mother, a concert pianist. He later learned to play the flute and organ and was self-taught on guitar, 5-string banjo and autoharp. He also enjoyed working on remodeling projects around the house and sailing and motorboating on Pine Lake.
On June 21, 1958, in LaPorte, he married Shirley (Jelke) Duerr, who survives.
Also surviving are his beloved children, Wendy S. (Scott) Schultz of LaPorte and Steven C. (Susan) Duerr of Carmel, IN, and granddaughter, Ashley N. Duerr of Kennesaw, GA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Keith Duerr; and sister, Dorothy Keeler.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte with Rev. Sally Wicks officiating. Visitation with the family will be at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service. A cremation committal has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte. A private family interment will take place in the columbarium at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Presbyterian Church, 307 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350; or the American Alzheimer’s Association, 50 E. 91st St., Ste. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46209-4830.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.