Norvell was born and raised in Graham, MO, the son of Frederick and Helen Kemper. After high school, Norvell attended Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Missouri–Columbia, taking classes both before and after serving four years in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955.
Norvell met his future wife, Nina Brown, in 1959 in Maryville, MO, while she was taking a photograph. True to form, he pointed out that the lighting wasn’t right. True to hers, she didn’t listen—and from there, the story wrote itself. They were married on May 21, 1960, and shared 61 years together. The couple moved to Freeman in 1968, where they raised their family and lived until 2016, when they moved to Leawood, Kansas.
Norvell served as a mechanic in the Air Force, but his fondest memories of his service days came from representing the Air Force in model airplane competitions. This lifelong passion was evident in his apartment, where his beloved models and the many awards he earned were proudly displayed. After his time in the Air Force Reserve, Norvell began working in the Quality Assurance Division at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, MO, where he dedicated 32 years before retiring. It was a chapter of his life he spoke of often, especially during the last four years of his life, when he found joy in reminiscing and sharing stories that reflected his dedication, pride in his work, and the friendships he deeply cherished.
Norvell will be remembered as a kind, honest, and hardworking man with an uncanny ability to fix just about anything. He often credited this gift to the trust his father placed in him, allowing him, as a boy, to experiment freely with farm machinery and engines and figure things out on his own. That confidence stayed with him for life—and as it turned out, he almost always managed to put everything back together.
That ability served him well throughout his life. Nina wasn’t always thrilled with his creative methods, as the finished product wasn’t always pretty—but it always worked. Friends and neighbors regularly showed up with lawn equipment or anything else that had an engine, confident Norvell could bring it back to life. When his eyesight began to fail, it took away one of the great joys of his life.
He also had a green thumb, thanks to his upbringing on the farm. Each summer, his garden did well, and he took pride in sharing tomatoes, watermelons, rhubarb, and whatever else was ready with friends and neighbors. Store-bought produce never quite measured up, much to the disappointment of his daughters after they moved out.
Norvell had a mechanical mind and a deep passion for tractors (John Deere, specifically), airplanes, trains, and cars. He kept photo albums filled with pictures of cars and engines of all kinds, along with photos from airshows and tractor pulls. Mixed in were photos from his garden as well, including his annual tradition of holding a watermelon next to a basketball to document just how well things were growing that year—albums he was always happy to share.
Story time with Norvell was always detailed and accurate, which may explain why he excelled in his career in Quality Assurance. You learned quickly not to ask how something worked unless you really wanted to know, because doing so guaranteed a ten-minute explanation, complete with detailed hand gestures, delivered in a way that made perfect sense to him. No matter how many times he told a story, it was told the same way every single time—carefully, thoughtfully, and just as he remembered it.
Norvell spent his free time giving back to the Freeman community. He was an active member of the Lions Club and the Community Club, serving in many capacities. In his earlier years, he could be found constructing the bingo stand and flipping burgers for the annual Freeman Homecoming. He also served as custodian for Freeman Presbyterian Church, where he took care of the grounds and made sure the building was well maintained.
Norvell was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nina; his parents, Fred and Helen; and his sister, Molly. He is survived by his daughters: Kim (Dan) and Kay (Greg); his grandchildren: Daniel (Emily), Jared, Abby, and Gabrielle; and his nieces: Patty (Ron), Jan (John), and Betty (Dan).
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Kansas City Hospice, Caren Haven Homes, and Meadowbrook Senior Living for their compassionate care during Norvell’s final years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Kansas City Hospice or the Macular Degeneration Foundation.
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