Norman D. Lander

Norman D. Lander, 90, of Pender, NE passed on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Legacy Garden Rehabilitation and Living Center in Pender, NE. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender, NE; Pastor Beverly Rautenberg-Panko will be officiating. The visitation will be Friday, January 13, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender. The burial will be at Rosehill Cemetery in Pender. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender. Norman Devon (Swede) Lander was born April 5, 1926 in Pender, Nebraska to Albin and Lily (Swanson) Lander. Norman’s mother died when he was 4 years old and Albin was unable to care for him. Carl and Mamie (Swanson) Lander took Norman to raise him as a son. They were later blessed with two sons, Rodney and Gale. Carl and Albin were twin brothers and Mamie and Lily were sisters. Norman graduated from Pender High School in 1943 and helped Uncle Carl on the farm. In 1944, Uncle Sam called and Norman joined the Navy and served on the ship LCI(L )715 in the Pacific. He returned to Pender after being discharged and with Carl’s help began farming for himself. On August 29, 1948 he married Lila Wedergren at First Lutheran Church in Oakland. They were blessed with 3 children: Terry, Mark and Pat. They lived on Uncle Carl’s place until they rented a farm which had belonged to his grandfather Claus Swanson. Norman served as a councilman at St. Mark’s Lutheran, belonged to Lutheran Brotherhood and the JOY Bible Class. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was director of School District 37 for many years. Norman and Lila hosted the Pender Pretenders for 20 years. He also served on the Township Board. Norman was an avid sports fan and loved his Bears, Cubs, the Yankee’s and Cornhuskers. Norman and Lila moved from the farm to their current house in Pender in 1984, but he continued to farm for many years. They enjoyed going dancing for many years and made a host of friends. They also enjoyed many cruises and traveling to Norway and Sweden to meet his uncle and cousins. Norman loved life to the fullest and enjoyed it. He is survived by his wife Lila; sons, Terry (Cindy) Lander, Mark (Lorraine) Lander; daughter, Pat (Tom) Lanz; brother, Rod (Ellen) Lander.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Chris Lander, Melissa (Matt) Wood, Jesse (Kelly) Lanz, Katie (Justin) Lashmett, Britt Flink, Zachary Lander, Taylor Lander, 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister, Mamie and Carl Lander and brother Gale Lander.