Richard Noorlander, 89, passed away on Friday, January 26, 2018, at his home surrounded by his loving wife and family.
Richard was born on October 30, 1928, in Ogden, Utah, to John Henry and Minnie Vanderwoude Noorlander. Richard’s family moved to Huntsville; after high school, Richard joined the Navy for two years, then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Holland, where his parents were born, and when he returned, he went back to the Navy for another two years.
Richard married JoAnn McBride and had a daughter, Susan; he and his wife later divorced. He then married Jo Ann Hunt and they had Kary, Craig and Rudy; he and his second wife also divorced. In 1994, he married Ivy Thompson and loved all her children as if they were his own, and helped raise their grandson, Derick Thompson.
Richard was a disabled veteran but managed to do many things in his life. Richard was an artist doing things like making an eagle holding a fish in its claws out of moose antlers. He built a rock wall on the driveway hill, and he built a fish pond. On a trip back from Florida, he stopped by a pond and got some lily pads and put them in his fish pond. Richard loved to visit his family and always had a grandchild with him. The littlest ones he carried on his shoulders.
He is survived by his wife, Ivy; his four children, Susan Rukavina, Kary (Cory) Lyman, Craig (Chris) Noorlander and Rudy Noorlander; six step-children, Rick (Cindy) Thompson, Valerie O’Brien, Pam Jackson, Valoie (Jay) Leetham, Valden (Claudia) Thompson and Chad (Amy) Thompson; two sisters, Jean Clark and Carol Smith; a brother, Blaine Noorlander; 42 grandchildren; and 38 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four siblings, Joyce Elaine, John Henry Jr., Donald Jay and Stanley; and a stepson, Brian Thompson.
Funeral services were held on Monday January 29, 2018, at the Moab LDS Stake Center. A viewing was held on Sunday, January 28, 2018, at Spanish Valley Mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial followed at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
