Lonnie Edward Nordt
June 5, 1932  -  June 17, 2024

On June 5, 1932, on a farm in Damon, Texas, God gifted our daddy, Lonnie Edward Nordt, to parents Norma and Louis Nordt. Daddy may have been the youngest of 6 children, but he had so many firsts.

Not only was he in the very First graduating class of newly established Needville High School, but he helped select the Bluejay to be the school's mascot….and co-wrote Needville's school song, which is still sung today at every major school event.

He was named the First Outstanding Male Athlete of NHS….served as the First President of Needville FFA Chapter and was the First Needville FFA member to receive the American Farmers Degree.

After graduating from Wharton County Jr College, daddy served in the US Army Signal Corps in the United States and Germany as Dial Central Office Technician during the Korean War. After the service, he planned to pursue a law degree but that dream was sidelined when his father died unexpectedly. He returned home and moved next door to his mother to help care for her and the farm.

Daddy first spotted the love of his life on the dance floor at Fairchild Dance Hall…our mom, Helen Marie Stavinoha. He told a friend to ask her dance and then planned to cut in. The plan worked. After a two-year courtship which included many handwritten letters (neither had a phone), they were married July 20, 1958…then, had us, Kim and Kay.

Daddy and mom were inseparable- they did absolutely everything together, including working. With two daughters to provide for, daddy didn't just work one job…he worked three. During the day he served as the Damon, Texas Postmaster. Plus, he owned and operated Nordt Insurance Agency. Nights and weekends were devoted to the family farm. And, mom was working alongside him every step of the way.

Daddy always found time to be active in his church and community. As a lifetime member of First English Lutheran Church, he was a Sunday School Teacher and served in various Church council roles including President. He also belonged to the Damon Lions Club serving over the years as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Staying busy gave him purpose, but he always had time for us. He and mom provided a happy loving home, strong foundation…and, we always had fun.

Besides his family, daddy's biggest passion was sports. An accomplished athlete at almost every sport, he especially enjoyed pitching softball and was known to have the "slowest fastball" of all area amateur men's league pitchers at that time. For years, he and mom had the prime 50-yard-line seats at the Needville football games. He loved working with young people and spent years coaching Little League. After retiring at age 66, he took up one more sport…golf. And, as he once wrote "enjoyed it very much" (as in playing 3 times a week and even teaching mom how to play).

With his big heart and wonderful sense of humor, it's no wonder "Uncle Lonnie" was everyone's favorite "Cool Uncle". He was the one who would ride the scariest roller coaster with you or play Marco Polo in the pool. At family gatherings, he was the first one outside playing football or basketball with the kids…or, playing card or domino games for hours. He had a mind for numbers and became an exceptional poker player. Even despite the his recent horrible battle with dementia, he would eagerly stay for poker games at Izard family gatherings. When it was his time to deal and my cousins asked "What are we playing?", Daddy always said "Lonnie Wins". And, more times than not, he did.

There are so many things he would ask or tell us on a regular basis, not only as we were growing up, but even as adults. "Do you have gas in your car?" "Make sure you call us when you get home." But, the one thing he told us Every single day was "I Love You". Even in his final days as his dementia worsened, every day when we called home, he would ask mom who she was talking to. When she said it was us…he always asked "Are they all right?" After she told him "Yes", he would say "Tell them I Love Them". We would tell him "We Love Him, too." And, mom said he would say "Thank you" and just smile.

Thank you Daddy for being the best father, husband, uncle, cousin, brother, son, friend anyone could ever ask for. We Love You!

With appreciation from his entire family….wife Helen, daughter Kim and son-in-law Bob Jackson, daughter Kay and son-in-law Bill Martin. Daddy is preceded in death by his parents Louis and Norma, sister Vernita and husband Warren Schimkowitsch, brother Erwin and wife Clara, brother Ray and wife Lona Mae, sister Delores and husband Ludwig Fishbeck, and, brother L.C.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life Service at First English Lutheran Church in Damon, Texas, Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10 AM, with interment following in Davis Greenlawn Cemetery, Rosenberg, TX 77471.

Visitation will be Friday, June 21, 2024, from 5-7 PM at Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 1201 4th Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281) 342-4671.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First English Lutheran Church, PO Box 129, Damon, Texas, 77430.

Condolence messages may be written for the Nordt family at www.garmanycarden.com

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 4th Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.