In Memory of

Norman

K.

Tuttle

Obituary for Norman K. Tuttle

Norman Keith Tuttle was born on January 24, 1932, in Utica, Nebraska, to Dudley and Seba Tuttle. Raised on a farm at the end of the Great Depression, Keith was the second youngest child with eight siblings: Edith, Neva, Lois, Wilmetta, Carl, Donald, Maxine and Joyce. Life was not easy for the Nebraska farmers; money was tight and the work was arduous, but Keith managed to find enjoyment in his surroundings. He owned a horse named, Dick, on whom he won more than one race, and he also had some ornery goats who managed to eat part of the rag-top on a visiting uncles new car! The Tuttle family were also involved in church life at Friend Gospel Tabernacle in nearby Friend, Nebraska. As a young man, Keith had already made the most important decision of his life, and that was to accept and follow Jesus Christ. With his tenor voice, Keith was often asked to lead the singing at church. Because of work on the farm and the needs of his family, Keith was only able to go through the 8th grade in school. In 1952, during the Korean Conflict, Keith enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed on board the USS Princeton. In 1953, while home on leave, Keith met the very attractive and talented Cathy Casadont. A quick romance ensued and they were married on October 3, 1953. Keith returned to active duty with his new wife in tow, and there began an interesting life in Navy housing with postings in San Diego, California, and Bremerton, Washington. Soon Keith and Cathy had a growing family with son, John, born in 1954, daughter, Gale, in 1955, son, Philip in 1958, and son, Thomas, in 1961. After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1956, Keith and Cathy decided to leave farming and Nebraska and raise their family in Cathy’s home state of Minnesota. They bought an old farmstead near Cloquet, Minnesota, and Keith worked two jobs to provide for his family, as well as growing plants for sale in their greenhouse in order to eke out his paychecks. Eventually Keith was hired by Potlatch, a paper mill in Cloquet and the family moved to town where they raised their children. The Tuttles were active in their church, and Keith took on many roles there, even helping to build and landscape a new church building. Later he became an elder. In his late 40’s, Keith decided to return to school through a program at the paper mill and he worked hard to become an electrician. When problems with his heart began to manifest themselves, Keith took an early retirement, and he and Cathy returned to Friend in 1984, where they lived until 2004, when they moved to Beloit, Wisconsin in order to be closer to family. In March 2015, they followed son, Philip, to Plover, Wisconsin. Cathy entered eternity on October 20, 2015. During the last days of her illness, Cathy and Keith marked their 62nd Wedding Anniversary; a testimony of commitment and dedication to their Lord, each other and to their family. Keith moved to Whispering Pines Memory Care Facility, Plover, Wisconsin, in October 2016, where he lived until he passed into eternity on Friday, January 26, 2018, just two days after his 86th birthday.

Memorial Gifts Because of Keith and Cathy’s long-time commitment to world missions, Memorial Gifts have been designated for their grandson, Rev. Nathan Tuttle, and his missionary work at Hope Center, Tauarngua, New Zealand . Checks should be made payable to: Water’s Edge Church, 1228 Presque Isle, Marquette, Michigan 49855 and designated for Nathan Tuttle. Also, to honor Keith’s love of giving to his church, Memorial Gifts have also been designated for Highland Church, Plover, Wisconsin. Checks should be made payable to: Highland Church, 700 Hoover Avenue, Plover, Wisconsin, 54467.