Norman Thomas Monson "Poobah"

Norman Thomas Monson died peacefully on October 31 at Columbia St. Mary’s in Milwaukee. He was born Nov. 21, 1930, in Minneapolis. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he worked as a reporter in Decatur, IL, then joined the Racine Journal Times’ news staff in 1956.

He worked at the Journal Times for 23 years, 10 of them as opinion editor and chief editorial writer. His editorials and special reports won first place 22 times in contests judged by the Wisconsin Newspaper Assn., Associated Press, Wisconsin Education Assn., Wisconsin Assn. of School Boards, and Wisconsin Assn. of Nursing Homes. Six of the awards were in the “large daily” category.

His editorials came in first in a national contest held by the Inland Daily Press Assn. and the William Allen White Foundation. Contest judges generally cited his editorials for logic and intellectual honesty, and for being authoritative, passionate, and engaging.

He left the Journal Times in 1980 and became editor-publisher of the Shoreline Leader weekly newspaper. He also covered local news stories as a correspondent for the Milwaukee Sentinel.

Norman also was a successful businessman, world traveler, and volunteer for non-profit organizations. He served as loaned executive for the United Way and was a charter member of the Racine Arts Council, the Sister City Planning Council, and the Council for International Friendship where he served on the national executive committee.

He was a Rotarian for 36 years, traveling to India twice to participate in Rotary's effort to eradicate polio by mass immunizations. In another Rotary project, he spearheaded a shipment of 8,000 donated children’s books to the Philippines.

Norman was co-host of a WRJN radio show called “Straight Talk” and taught a credit course in “Editorial Persuasion” at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. He served eight years in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Norman served on the boards of RAMAC, Lutheran Social Services, United Nations Committee, Lutheran Human Relations Committee, and Center for Community Concerns.

He was a Scoutmaster, Explorer Scout adviser, and member of the regional Boy Scout Executive Committee. He was in four Indian Guide tribes with his children, and for years served as regional chairman for Brotherhood Week activities sponsored by the Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

During the Racine Unified School desegregation, Norman conceived and directed a program called “Project Friendship” in which persons of different races were paired up for Sunday home visits.

He nominated Louise Hunter of the Love and Charity Mission to receive the Jefferson Award. She won it and Norman helped raise $30,000 toward buying the building the homeless shelter.

At the Mental Health Assn., Norman was chairman of a committee that launched a program for bartenders, encouraging active listening to a customer's woes and then making a referral to an appropriate agency. The idea spread to other cities and Johnny Carson remarked on his TV show, “This makes a lot of sense.” In 1986, Norman ran for election to the state legislature, but the incumbent prevailed.

During the Cold War, Norman served for eight years as president of the Wisconsin US-USSR Friendship Society. This included organized people-to-people peace trips to Russia three times and to Cuba, Asia, and South America. He believed world peace was much too important to be left up to politicians. He also hosted many foreign visitors.

Before being seriously injured in an auto accident, Norman was into physical fitness with aerobics, various sports, and 19 ballet lessons at age 53. He also sang in local choral groups.

Over the years Norman was active in the Civil War Roundtable of Milwaukee, International Folk Dancers, bridge clubs, Filipino-American organizations, and Sons of Norway.

He identified strongly with his Norwegian ancestry, naming a company he founded Viking Properties, Inc. The firm was active buying and selling properties in and around Racine, the largest holding a 97-unit apartment complex in Union Grove.

Norman's first wife, Merry, died in 1977. He was re-married to Maria Evelyn Orayle in 1994. Survivors include Maria; sons Mark (Penny Rogers), Leif (Marie), and David; daughter Kristin Rosholt; five grandchildren, Molly (Matti Sahel), Anna (Alexander Merk) and Neil Monson; Charles and Evan Rosholt; great granddaughter, Maya Sahel, and Baby Merk due in January.

Norman is a member of St. Rita Catholic Church. His survivors include sister Marie Duclos, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Tim, his parents Mons and Emma, and sisters Elaine and Gladys.

Norman enjoyed collecting nutcrackers and canes and was an enthusiastic fan of the Green Bay Packers. He loved to watch Korean TV dramas.

Visitation will be held at St. Rita Catholic Church, 4339 Douglas Ave., on Friday, November 13 from 10 -11:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11:30. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Hwy. 32. Memorials to Society of St. Vincent De Paul Racine have been suggested.