Dr. Robert D Nordstrom

Dr. Robert Dale Nordstrom, 61, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Bismarck on May 17, 2013. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 1:00 PM at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Nadine Lehr officiating. The family will be greeting visitors from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday evening at Eastgate Funeral Service. Bob was born on June 25, 1951, in Bismarck, the son of Robert and Florence Nordstrom. He attended Richholt Elementary and Simle Junior High. He graduated from Bismarck High School where he played violin in the orchestra, and he excelled in sports football, basketball, wrestling, track and field, and baseball. He played football on scholarship for Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and the University of North Dakota. His sports career culminated in an invitation to the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. He also received a recruitment letter from the Oakland Raiders. However, he decided to further his education and pursue a career in Optometry. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. He began practicing with Henry Reichert, M.D. in 1977, and opened Nordstrom Eye Center on Broadway in 1981. In 2007, he expanded and moved the practice to the Eye Center of the Dakotas on west Divide Avenue. He truly enjoyed his career and cared deeply for his patients. He retired in 2011, and commented that what he missed most were his patients. Bob married Joan Lawlor on September 28, 1985. They enjoyed travelling extensively. Bob enjoyed snorkeling and was more at home in the water than on land. He swam with the turtles and dolphins in Hawaii, manatees in Florida, and stingrays in the Cayman Islands. He had spent much of his youth at Hillside Pool where he later became a lifeguard and taught hundreds of people how to swim. He was also a water safety instructor and served as the swim coach in the 1970's. He continued to swim three times a week up to the time of his death. Bob was an avid sports fan. He was devoted to the Minnesota Vikings in good seasons and in bad. He also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, UND Hockey, and many other televised team sports. He was a talented financial planner. In 2011, he became an Accredited Asset Management Specialist. Bob had a great sense of humor and was a gifted storyteller. He will be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Joan, and his siblings, Ron, Don, Dave, Jim, and Kathleen, and their spouses, as well of numerous nieces, nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Central Dakota Humane Society or to Bismarck State College where a scholarship will be established in his memory: Bismarck State College Foundation, P.O. Box 5587, Bismarck, ND 58506-5587. Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Bob and to sign the online guestbook.

Dr. Robert D Nordstrom

June 25, 1951 - May 17, 2013