Louis Nordlund

Louis Carl Nordlund, age 76, of Ravenna passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 with family at his side. He was born in Fremont, MI. to the late James and Josephine (Swenson) Nordlund.

Louie was a 1962 graduate of Shelby High School. He attended Central Michigan University, where he lettered as a varsity football player and graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Science, Physical Education, and Middle School Education. He also coached the Chippewa defensive linemen as a graduate assistant. Louie was motivated to pursue a career in education in part because his own education was something he worked hard to achieve. This understanding that everyone learns differently made him a kind and patient 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Science teacher to generations of students at Ravenna Public Schools. In his later years, it was not uncommon that he had taught his students’ parents and grandparents. He had an uncanny ability to remember his students, and their stories, and enjoyed every time an adult would stop him somewhere and ask if he remembered them. As the district Driver’s Education instructor, he spent 36 summers teaching young drivers. He often shared that in all that time, there was just one accident and it wasn’t the fault of the student driver. From 1972-1995, he was the Varsity Wrestling Coach. Although his teams and individual wrestlers had many accomplishments at state, regional, district, and conference levels, the stories he told were of the circumstances his wrestlers may have overcome to achieve these things. For 20 years he also served as an assistant football coach and 10 years as a volunteer track coach. In the later part of his career, it was not uncommon that he was a mentor to young teachers in the district, many who were previous students and athletes. A man of faith His impact in his community extended beyond the school district as he was an active, faithful member of First Reformed Church in Ravenna. Since 1975, he served in multiple ways including deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, adult small group and youth group leader, Director of Wednesday night outreach program (W.O.W), and as the Director of Kids Hope USA for Ravenna. Louie loved to tell stories and share fun facts, most often to his kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. Whether he was dad, papa, grandpa, Uncle Louie or Uncle Louis, he was counted on for his positivity, encouragement and good-natured fun. He and his wife Linda were often found in the bleachers, or concert halls, participating in the lives of their grandchildren. Always together, they enjoyed family, camping at Cran Hill Ranch, travel, and finding ways to do things for others.

Louie is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda (TenBrink) Nordlund; children, Lisa (Joe) Knapp, Luke (Janell) Nordlund and Lenae (David) Steffen; grandchildren, Tyler, Troy, Tate (Francesca), Teagan, Tanna, Isaac, Chloe and Jonah; brothers, James (Kay) Nordlund, John (Carmen) Nordlund; sisters, Katherine (Maurice) Brevard and April (Scott) Burns; sisters-in-law, Karen (Roger) Peak and Vicki TenBrink; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Louie was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Jack TenBrink. Due to COVID restrictions a Private Family Services will be held at the First Reformed Church of Ravenna with Rev Steve VanderWoude officiating. The service will be uploaded to the Ravenna First Reformed Facebook Page on Wednesday December 23, 2020.  Burial will take place in the Ravenna Twp. Cemetery. Memorial donations in Louie’s memory may be made to First Reformed Church of Ravenna, 3327 Mortimer St, Ravenna, MI 49451.  Condolences for the family may be left on Louie’s Tribute Wall at throopfh.com. Please share a story about having Louie as a teacher, coach, or friend on our Kudoboard titled: Stories about your papa/grandpa from his students, athletes, co-workers and friends at https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/gXLLmMbz.

Throop Funeral Home,Coopersville 616-837-8161