Wesley 'Glennie' Nordgaarden, 66
Sandpoint, Idaho, native, retired educator and devoted family man Glen Wesley ”Glennie” Nordgaarden, 66, passed away at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint with Charley Packard officiating.
Glen, the youngest son of 11 siblings, was born in Sandpoint, July 18, 1943, to Gilbert and Emma Nordgaarden shortly after the family moved here from Roseau, Minn.
He attended Old Farmin Elementary School as well as Sandpoint Junior High and Sandpoint High School, where he graduated in 1962.
As a dedicated player and team leader on legendary coach Cotton Barlow’s football squad, Glen pulled off a remarkable play, remembered to this day by his fellow players.
“He made one of the best shoestring tackles that I’ve ever seen — high school, college, or pro — in one of our football games,” classmate Mike Brown of DuPont, Wash., recalls. Sandpoint’s John Pucci, who played the same position behind him, remembers Glen as his football mentor.
A hooky-bobbing stunt in downtown Sandpoint one winter night led Glen to his soul mate and his 43-year marriage to Ruthann Kiebert of Hope, Idaho. She was driving the car. Glen hooked on and never let go. The two were married Feb. 12, 1966, in Sandpoint. Glen always expressed his adoration for Ruthann through thoughtful compliments. The couple reared two children, Eric and Kiersten.
He later attended North Idaho College and then the University of Idaho, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree, education, specializing in industrial arts. His entire teaching career was spent at Clark Fork, where he taught seventh graders through seniors. Besides his teaching assignments, Glen coached track, girls and boys basketball and baseball. For a time, he served as Wampus Cats’ head football coach.
Survivors include his wife, Ruthann, at their Selle home; son, Eric; daughter, Kiersten Ogbeide; granddaughters, Osazé, Adéola and Lehana Ogbeide, all of Selle; and granddaughter, Keonah Nordgaarden of Sandpoint. Also surviving are brothers, Arnold (Peggy) of St. Louis; and Eddie (Sonya) of Sandpoint. Surviving sisters include Gladys Wall of Everett, Wash., Manda (Marion) Benton of Spokane, Grace (Steve) Brixen of Sandpoint and Lila (Randy) Petersen of Sandpoint. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Millard, Earl, LeRoy and Gaylord.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Glen’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.