Karl E. Nordberg

I suspect I was born lucky 84 years ago. Life was good to me. But then I also worked hard at making it successful. I seemed to always make the right decisions at the right time in life and had no regrets. Oh, there were upsets that might frustrate some. My oldest son Brian died at age 23 from diabetes complications, and my wife died in 2014 from cancer complications after 49 ½ years of a fulfilling marriage. My sons Kevin and Keith have successful lives of which I am proud.

I spent 39 years of my adult life teaching with 37 years of that at Edinboro University. I am grateful for that opportunity and the retirement that that and 2 years of high school teaching provided. I started out at Edinboro as a temporary professor in 1966 and rose through the ranks to full professor, retiring as emeritus in 2003. I commend my mentors through the years, Dr. James Flynn and Dr. Susan Criswell, for caring about my success.

I suppose my work at Edinboro University was my crowning achievement but also my family and in 1985 building a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom home. I don't mean hiring a contractor to build it. I mean the five of us designing and building it. Son, Kevin, was a mighty helper at the ripe old age of 14. He spent his entire summer working with me on the build. A photo shows the 3 youngsters, Brian, Kevin and Keith, up on the porch roof putting siding on the house - yes they learned how and did roofing shingles too. That Christmas we did not celebrate because there was no money or time. We all survived it well. One of the boys in later years said they all thought I was crazy: "we can't build a house". But we did and the "mansion" in the woods is a tribute to all their hard work. And that work ethic that we nurtured was good for all of us. But none of us ever wanted to build another house.

I was preceded in death by my parents, Gustave Robert and Treva Marie, what seems a long time ago, my brother Donald in 1994, and my son Brian (diesel mechanic) in 1993 and my wife Barbara in 2014. Yes, that is a lot of loss but I have always believed that life is for the living. My wife, Barbara, made me promise to find someone and not be lonely. That is love. I was fortunate to have many folks enjoy restaurant dinners with me.

I am survived by my son Kevin, a retired Lieutenant in the Rockford, Illinois police department and his wife, Tammy, and grandsons, Scott & Sean, and my son Keith, senior procurement specialist, at Parker Lord Manufacturing in Erie, Pa. and his wife, Lori. What an honor to have both men as my offspring. Also, my brother, Norman, and his wife, Chris, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and my brother, Rob, and his wife, Marge, of Lillington, NC. and my sister, Wanda, and husband, Bill, of Cumberland, Maryland.

I have loved life and it has been good to me. Death does not concern me. It is just the end of a wonderful adventure that it was my good fortune to participate in.

There will be no viewing or memorial service. The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro, is in charge of cremation services.

Love life, love people and be kind to animals.