Norbert Heuvel

Madison - Norbert Anthony Vanden Heuvel, 93, passed away peacefully and with family present on Thursday, May 24th, at Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg, WI.

Norbert was born on October 27, 1924, the 8th of 11 children. His parents were George Vanden Heuvel and Rika Van Grinsven, Dutch immigrants who settled in Kimberly, Wisconsin. As a boy he was an excellent student and credible athlete, who shared his mother's passion for music and singing. His future was to be dramatically affected by the onset of WWII. In 1942, as he anxiously awaited his 18th birthday so he could join the Army Air Force, he was drafted into the Army. Fortunately, he qualified for the AAF and began training as a bombardier, operating the Norden Bombsight on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and in December 1944 departed for Italy. Stationed in Foggia, he flew 15 daylight missions over Italy, Austria and Germany. Norbert rarely spoke of his wartime experiences, but later in life when asked did begin to open up. But even then, while his children wanted stories about terrifying missions and wartime heroics, he more often spoke of how his crew helped him realize his special talent as a listener with an innate ability to bring opposing sides together. This heavily influenced the path he chose in college and would ultimately serve him well in both career and home.

Thanks to the GI Bill Norbert was able to attend college. He initially enrolled at St. Norbert's College, then transferred to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earned his BA and a Master's degree in Personnel & Marketing. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. More importantly, it was at UW where he met Joan Sandman, whom he married on August 26, 1950, in Hillsboro. The serious car accident that delayed their honeymoon may have helped convince him that in the near future the insurance business was the place to be. Norb and Joan spent many happy years together, raising their family of 3 daughters and 5 sons. They lived briefly in Stevens Point, where Kathleen was born, and later in Hillsboro where Stephen was born, then permanently settled in Madison where the next 6 "Miserable Pups" (his term of endearment) were born. Although Norbert and Joan divorced in 1981 they remained inseparable as friends and most sensed their love for one another grew stronger after they parted.

Norbert began his long and successful career in the insurance business at Hardware Mutual in Stevens Point. A few years later he joined Farmer's Mutual Insurance, which in 1963 become "American Family Insurance." In 1957 he was promoted to Personnel Director and in 1967 to Vice President of Personnel. For the next 30 plus years "N.A. Vanden Heuvel" initiated innovative ideas such as flexible work schedules, a company matching plan that encouraged employees to save, no smoking rules before legally required, centralized training and a company sponsored program to connect employees with life services available in the local communities. At the heart of his initiatives was a sincere desire that the company he loved should treat people as people, not as "resources." His legacy lives on as the majority of those innovations continue to be popular benefits to this day.

Norbert retired from American Family in 1988 and began a new chapter involving world travel, golf, sailing/boating. He played golf regularly, usually choosing to walk the course, even later when it became a struggle. Although Norbert never achieved the level of play that he aspired to, he managed to make 2 holes in one. When not traveling, he enjoyed the company of his many awesome neighbors at Century Harbor, who were more like extended family. He also looked forward to meeting his longtime Madison friends for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Whenever possible, though, it was family coming together for events that gave him the greatest satisfaction and enjoyment.

While his career was certainly a huge part of his life, many of his innovations were saved for the home, as he undertook creative ways to house 8 children and 2 adults into a small 3 bedroom house. There are times when innovation requires board meetings, traveling and intense negotiations while other times only a hammer, some drywall and creatively selling the idea that a closet was actually a private bedroom. That tiny room he created became the most sought after piece of real estate in the Vanden Heuvel household.

Clearly recognizing the need to both "Escape to Wisconsin" and other times "From Wisconsin" Norbert and Joan planned at least one memorable family vacation every year. The family loaded into the station wagon with tent neatly folded, car top carrier filled to the breaking point and then off they went to Yellowstone, Atlanta, Vancouver, Boston, or to less extravagant but equally exciting Kimberly, Pickeral, or Devil's Lake with the QP Campers. As the kids grew up and moved out, Norbert continued his passion for travel and embarked on various journeys and cruises throughout the world. However, his fondest memories always seemed to go back to the "simpler" family vacations.

In May 2012 Norbert was chosen for a Badger Honor Flight, an experience he was able to share with his son Stephen. In 2014 he took a flight on a B-17 at a Madison air show. He noted that it was far harder to get into the cramped, plexiglass bubble in which a bombardier sat at age 90 than at age 20.

The story of Norbert's life would not be complete without noting that he loved to sing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and was a member of the Queen of Peace choir for more than 20 years. He sang to his children and grandchildren, sang when he was working on household projects, mowing the lawn, or just sitting in a lawn chair looking at the lake. Music gave him great joy until the last moments of his life.

Norbert is survived by his children, Kathleen (Berkeley, CA); Mary Blend (Paul, Beaver Creek, OH); Michael (Tracy, Highland, WI); Robert (Kathy Hudak, Missoula, MT); Jane Richards (Mick, Flagstaff, AZ); and Daniel (Cindy, Cambridge, WI); daughter-in-law Bridget Murray (Madison) and sister-in-law Rose Vanden Heuvel (Appleton, WI). He was preceded in death by his former wife Joan and sons Stephen and John; his parents George and Rika; sisters Marie, Ellen, Harriet, Carolyn, Joanne, and Agnes; brothers John, George, Joseph, Eugene.

He also witnessed the growth of his six grandchildren and the births of five great grandchildren. He made many trips around the country to visit. As travel became less possible, Facetime assisted. He passes on his quiet love and legacy to granddaughters Jessica Vanden Heuvel Sweetland (husband Christopher, Lane, Eloise, Grace); Elizabeth Blend O'Shaughnessy (husband Rob, Aengus, Cora Jane); Rebekah Blend Hibbert (husband Ray); and grandsons Nicholas Vanden Heuvel; Joseph and Benjamin Vanden Heuvel. He also leaves behind a great many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Dr., Madison, on Friday, June 1, 2018, at 1:15 p.m., with Msgr. Kenneth J. Fiedler presiding. Family will greet friends from 12:45 p.m. until the time of Mass. A reception at the church will follow. Burial with military honors will be at Resurrection Cemetery after the reception.

Norbert had a lifelong commitment to the Red Cross Blood Drive. He gave often, and was frequently called upon for additional donations, because he had a relatively rare blood type. Please consider donating in Norbert's honor.

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Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434