Frederick Edward Norton

Frederick Edward Norton, age, 73, of Belleville IL, born on September 30, 1949 in West Branch, MI, to Ivan and Neoma, nee Vincent, Norton, died on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL.

Fred grew up in West Branch, MI until the middle of his 10th grade year when the family moved to Gladwin, MI. He graduated from Gladwin High School in 1967, and then attended and graduated from Northeastern School of Commerce in Bay, City, MI.

On February 25, 1969, Fred enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following basic and technical training, he was stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinaw, Japan; Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Enid, OK; U Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand; Richards-Gebaur AFB, Grandview, MO; Scott AFB, Belleville, IL; North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters, Brussels, Belgium; back to Scott AFB; and Rhein-Main AB, near Frankfurt, Germany. He ended his Air Force career on October 31, 1991 at Eaker AFB, Blytheville, AR, after 22 years and eight months of military service. After retirement, Fred worked as the receptionist at the Region 14, National Labor Relations Board, in St. Louis, MO, retiring on May 31, 2014 after 20 years and five months of government service.

On June 9, 1984, Fred married Peggy Sue Townsend in Gladwin, MI. She preceded him in death on April 20, 1999.

He was an ordained priest in the Community of Christ Church in Gladwin, MI and was active in church activities. Fred also loved to travel, especially to Branson, MO, and the Silver Dollar City theme park. He visited 45 states and at least 19 countries. He was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and was also a fan of the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Mascoutah High School, Mascoutah, IL. Each year in March, Fred and friends attended the Illinois high school boys’ basketball state finals attending eight games in two days. In 2005, Fred and a good friend began traveling to Major League Baseball stadiums, usually going to one or two a year. In 2018, his friend decided he didn’t want to go on long trips because of his health, so they started going to Minor League Baseball stadiums that weren’t too far away.

Fred was a member of the Mascoutah Horseshoe League and served for several years as president. Although not a musician, Fred loved music. For many years, he attended the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, which is where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper performed before their plane crash in 1959. There he saw many singers and groups from the 1950’s and 60’s. Fred was a square dancer and loved country dancing but had to stop when his health got bad but would still go and listen to the music and watch others dance.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Logan Reid; his sisters, Judy Klemetti, Barbara Robinson, and Jean Iutzi; his brothers, Richard Reid and Randy Reid; his sisters-in-law, Edna Townsend Sullivan and Nikki Townsend; and a niece, Monica Coolich.

Fred is survived by his brothers and sisters, Timothy Norton of Kansas City, MO, Virginia Thompson of Deland, FL, Marlin Reid of Deland, FL, Marlene Baggette of Crawfordville, FL,  Judy Matthews of Davison, MI, Darla Fox of Harrison, MI, and Marsha (Jim) Burgess of Harrison, MI; his brothers-in-law, Lee Klemetti of Muskegon, MI, William Sullivan of Bruneau, ID, Harold Iutzi of Harrison, MI, and Robert Townsend of Gladwin, MI; his sister-in-law, Patricia and her husband Don Block, of Grand Rapids, MI; his nieces and nephews, Tonya Kersting, Steve Klemetti, Laura Horning, Christopher Horning, Maggie Baden, Laice Laney, Keven Iutzik, Mike Thompson, Steve Thompson, Dennis Thompson, James Reid, Christine Kelly, Sherry Reese, Rhonda Lovell, Kimberly Rahmann, Cindy Laskowski, Michelle Bruski, Tina VanAmburg, Logan Colter, Sr., Georgene LeTourneau, Annette Reid, Randy Reid, Jeff Reid, Richard Ertman, Kassie Hendrickson, Dan Sullivan, Denise Averett, Devon Block, Dorenda Boggs, Donelle Block, Selina Robinson, Rebeka Taylor, Angela Moore, Bob Watkins, and Brian Watkins; and many great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Cross Street Community of Christ Church, 350 Tamarack Lane, Shiloh, IL 62269 and will also be accepted at Kassly Mortuary. Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023 and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Kassly Mortuary, Fairview Heights, IL.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Visitation will also be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Community of Christ Church, Gladwin, MI.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Community of Christ Church, Gladwin, MI. Interment will be at the Hamilton Township cemetery (Clare County), Gladwin, MI.  

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