Donald Earl "Don" Norlander, age 68 of Wuori Twp. died Tuesday, June 11, 2012 in his home. He was born December 9, 1944 in Virginia, the son of Everett and Arline (Westby) Norlander and went to school in Virginia. Don joined the Navy in September of 1962 and was a distinguished Vietnam veteran, the recipient of many medals and honors, and achieved the rank of CM1 at a very early age. He served with the Seabees construction battalion in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Japan. Don was employed by Canadian National/ Duluth-Winnipeg-Pacific Railroad as a mechanical supervisor for 30 years, retiring in 2005. Don was a wonderful and gentle man. He loved spending time and fishing at the cabin on Oak Narrows, Lake Vermilion with his family and especially his grandchildren. Don enjoyed his "40 Acre Woods" working with a chainsaw or his loader/backhoe. He married Byrl (White) Bennett on January 19, 1979. They had a wonderful, 34 year marriage and traveled many trips and cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii.
Don is survived by his wife: Byrl; children: Dawn (Mike Koosman) Norlander of Duluth, Annette (Eric Oakman) Beise of Britt, Scott Norlander of Duluth, and Brad (Sandy) Bennett of Gilbert; siblings: Nancy (Wayne) Alford of Greenwood, MS and Kenneth (Bonnie) Norlander of Esko; grandchildren: Miranda Elizabeth Beise, Dane Walter Beise, Brenden Alan Bennett; great-granddaughter: Aleigha Piper; nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and mother and father-in-law: Harry and Beth White.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 14, 2013 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Funeral Service in the Virginia United Methodist Church. Military Honors will be accorded by the Virginia Servicemen's Honor Guard. Interment will be in the Florenton Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred and may be directed to further pancreatic cancer research.
Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .



Visitation 10 am - 11 am ,Friday, June 14, 2013
United Methodist Church
303 South 9th Ave. Virginia, MN 55792
Funeral Service 11 a.m. ,Thursday, June 13, 2013
United Methodist Church
303 South 9th Ave. Virginia, MN 55792
Interment Friday, June 14, 2013
Florenton Cemetery
7425 Hwy 169 Virginia, MN 55792