Norman H. Thiede, 73, of 328 Geneva St., Ironwood, died Thursday, June 19, 2008, surrounded by his family, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wis. He was born May 23, 1935, in Ishpeming, son of the late Glen and Hilma (Ahola) Thiede, and attended Watton, Ewen, Saxon, Pence and Hurley schools. He then was employed at the Bessemer Creamery for a short time, and served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1964 in Hawaii. Following his honorable discharge, Norman worked for Superior Bottle Gas Co. for 7 1/2 years and at White Pine Copper Co. for 24 years, retiring in 1993. He was a life member of Ironwood American Legion Post 5 and a member of the United Steelworkers Union. He also served as a volunteer driver for the Social Security Administration, the Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department and the Gogebic County Department of Human Services. Norman enjoyed flower gardening and was a big Detroit Tigers and Green Bay Packers fan. On Nov. 30, 1963, he married the former Yvonne Waterman in Bessemer. She preceded him in death on Aug. 25, 2006. Surviving are a son, Calin (Kathy), Montreal; a step-son, John (Roberta) Young, Cook, Minn.; two daughters, Laurie (Alan) Schenk and Donna (Mike) Contos, both of Ironwood; four grandchildren, Samantha, Heather and Joshua Thiede, and Curtis Young; two brothers, Marvin "Butch", Ironwood and Wally (Kathleen), Thornton, Colo.; three sisters, Carol (Jim) Chiapuzio, Bessemer, Joanne (Ron) Ahola, Ironwood, and Kathy Thom, North Ridgeville, Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews; and sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Gayle and Eldon Mattson and Aileen "Sandy" Kennedy, all of Ironwood Township, Elaine Shauger, Wakefield, and Ralph and Gerry Waterman, Appleton, Wis; and his two dogs, "Sarah" and "Brandi" and their caregiver, Suzette. Besides his parents and wife, Norman was preceded in death by a step-son, Curtiss Dale Young, April 9, 1979. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 24, at 11 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Francis Strong officiating. Full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow at the Iron Nugget in downtown Hurley. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. To view Norman's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood, is in charge of arrangements.