Norman Ordway Stewart entered into eternal life with our Lord on December 20, 2021. A loving husband,
father, and brother, he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna Carlene Stewart (nee Sleater), sons
Theodore, Christopher, and daughter Amy, grandchildren Catherine, Ashley, Christina, Adam, Mason,
Tevin, Wesley, Justin, Liam, Colin, and Ciaran, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Norm was born in Eureka, California, on November 24,1930, to Theo Margaret (nee Zimmerman) and
Arthur Ordway Stewart. In 1945, Norm, his mother, and stepfather, James Conrad, moved to Hawaii for
James' Coast Guard duty. After graduating high school there in 1948, Norm joined the Navy, serving in
the Construction Battalion. He was serving in Guam at the outbreak of the Korean conflict and having
served his term was honorably discharged shortly thereafter.
Norm returned to his home state of California where he embarked on his life-long passion for education,
earning his Bachelor's of Science in Education from Humboldt State University with a minor in Political
Science. One week later, on June 15th, 1957, he married his wife, Carlene. With Carlene at his side, he
attended Colorado State University to earn his Master's degree in Education. After returning to California,
he taught history and German (which he spoke fluently), at Stagg High School in Stockton. He later
completed a Doctorate of Education, followed by a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Concordia College in
Springfield, Illinois.
Pursuing an opportunity to teach at the college level, Norm relocated his family (which now included his
firstborn son, Ted) to Mount Angel, Oregon, where he taught at Mount Angel College and simultaneously
MacLaren School for Boys in Woodburn. He excelled at reaching troubled teens and began a life-long
passion for helping others.
While living in Mount Angel, Norm served as a municipal judge for the city and helped found the town's
Octoberfest. Later, Chris and Amy came along to complete the Stewart family.
Norm's professional life continued to focus on education, both in the public and private sectors. After
making his final move to Oregon City, he was Director of Continuing Education at Clackamas
Community College, then at University of Portland, and finally Portland State University. Eventually, he
became an entrepreneur with interests ranging from owning a fleet of trucks to land developing and
building several homes including the family's homestead in Oregon City. He also continued his work with
at-risk teens, later starting one of the first alternative high schools in the area, giving many youths and
young adults the opportunity to obtain their high school or General Educational Development (GED)
diplomas. Over the years, he assisted hundreds of students in completing their high school education,
helping them find employment, and at times hiring those who needed a hand-up when he actually had no
job openings. Many of the students also went on to serve in the military.
Norm's volunteer work was substantial and included his service as Judge Advocate General for the
Oregon State Defense Force, Salvation Army's Volunteer of the Year Award, and an honorary promotion
to Colonel in the Oregon State Defense Force after petitioning for and receiving a presidential pardon for
an individual serving a prison sentence who had been wrongfully convicted. As a faithful Christian, Norm
has always been devoted to his church family and served as a youth pastor in Mount Angel and a
congregational president at his Oregon City church.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oregon City on January 13th, 2021,
followed by a Military Honor ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery.