Obituary

Obituary
On Saturday, March 13, 2021, Kaare Nevdal, 100, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and friend passed away at his home in Rockford, IL, with his children by his side. Kaare was born in 1920 and raised in Ytra Arne, Norway, surrounded by the love of parents, siblings, and friends in this small town just outside Bergen. In 1941, after one year of living under the Nazi occupation, he escaped by boat to the Shetland Islands and enlisted in the Royal Norwegian Air Force in exile in London. While training in Toronto, Canada, he met his wife, Muriel Jones. Following training, Kaare served as a gunner/radioman in the RNAF for 4 years, flying German submarine bombing missions over the North Sea out of an RNAF air base in the UK. Following the end of WWII, Muriel sailed to Norway, where she and Kaare married and lived for one year. After living in Canada briefly, they immigrated to Rockford in 1948, and raised three children, Karen, Sandra and Mark. Kaare’s first job when he came to Rockford was at Ingersoll as a pipefitter and then a draftsman. He sold real estate in the evenings and eventually was employed full time for Lutheran Brotherhood as an insurance salesman. He then worked for Home Life of New York (Phoenix). In 1970 Kaare became certified as a CLU (Certified Life Underwriter).

The family joined Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in 1952, where Kaare served as Chairman of the congregation several times, taught Sunday School and remained a member for the rest of this life. Kaare was a past President and an active member of the Rockford Kiwanis Club for 56 years. He was also a member of the World War II Combat Flyers Club. After retirement, for 13 years, Kaare tutored elementary school students in reading. He and Muriel enjoyed travel and visited Norway, Yugoslavia, Italy and Canada. In 2019, Kaare was honored to be invited by the Vets Roll organization, based in Beloit, WI, to join American veterans on a road trip to Washington, DC. He thanked the American veterans for liberating his native country of Norway from the Nazi occupation. Kaare enjoyed playing handball with his regular group at the YMCA for many years. He enjoyed playing pool, attending Torske Club meetings in Chicago and singing. He golfed regularly, up to and including on his 100 birthday with his son, son-in-law, grandsons and great grandsons joining him on the course for this milestone celebration. He was genuinely curious about people he met, gracious in spirit, and grateful to God for a long life, well spent. Kaare regularly and openly spoke of his many blessings. One of his final blessings he considered to be the wonderful care he received from Heartland Hospice, the family expresses special thanks to Robin and Rosa for their loving care. Special thanks also to Vicky of Siena of Brendenwood, he really treasured her friendship and support.

Kaare is survived by his children, Sandra Rogers (Doug) of Marietta, GA, Mark Nevdal (Sue) of Davis, IL; grandchildren Eric Nelson (Mary), Jennifer Serrano (Jacob), Todd Rogers (Keri), Jake Nevdal (Kara), Aaron Nevdal (Kristen), Ben Nevdal (Breezy), and Luke Nevdal; and great-grandchildren Nathan, Brandon, Graham, Benjamin and Jude Nelson, Mateo Serrano, Dylan, Juliet and Evangeline Rogers, Katie, Matthew, Rachel, Mark, Claire and Katherine Nevdal.

Kaare’s surviving siblings include his sister, Halldis, 96 and Arne, 83, who live in Norway. He was predeceased by wife, Muriel, daughter Karen, brothers Birger, Arnold, Johannes and Knut.

There will be a walk-through visitation from 11:00 to 1:00 on Thursday, March 18, 2021 with masks and social distancing required at Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave, Rockford, IL. A funeral service with only family in attendance will be held at 10:00 am prior to the visitation. Those wishing to view the service may do via Zoom: Meeting ID: 882 8436 5919, Passcode: 097363. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Kaare’s name to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607; Lutheran World Relief, 700 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230; or Vets Roll, 1777 Gardner St., South Beloit, IL 61080.