Verland W. Norton

MADISON- Verland Wilson Norton died suddenly Saturday, September 13, 2008 at his home in Madison Wisconsin. He was 74 years old. He was born March 3, 1934 in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the eldest of four children. After graduating from Boyceville High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where was stationed in Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii. During his service, he was a drill Sergeant and was on the Marine Corps swimming team. After his honorable discharge, he studied sociology and history at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls where he was active in the theater. In 1958, he married Donna Proue and moved to Madison, Wisconsin to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin. While in Wisconsin, he earned his College of Life Underwriters (CLU) certification and taught classes to help other CLU candidates. He was a manager for Prudential Insurance Company of America and ran for state senate. In 1976, he moved to College Station, Texas with his wife Donna who was a professor at Texas A&M University. While in Texas, Verland earned his real estate broker's license and was active as a real estate developer and stock market investor. He was an avid supporter of the arts for organizations such as Opera and Performing Arts Society and Stage Center in College Station and Houston Grand Opera. He provided scholarships for musicians at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and participated in study abroad programs to England, Scotland, and Wales. Verland and Donna moved back to Madison in 2004. He was active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church as well as with the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Madison Symphony, Public Broadcasting System, National Public Radio, and Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters. He is survived by his wife Donna Norton, his children Bradley and Saundra Norton, his grandchildren Zachary and Matthew Norton, and sisters, Loretta Lamb and Dorothy Norton. Services will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4100 Nakoma Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711: (608) 238-3121. Visitation will be 10:00--11:00 a.m. The funeral service will be 11:00-12:00 p.m. A luncheon will be served at the church following interment at Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Madison Symphony Orchestra.