Norman Eugene Hawk

Norman E. Hawk, age 89, passed peacefully February 6, 2024 in Laguna Hills, CA.

Norm was born on July 11, 1934 to parents Arthur and Doris in Coldwater Michigan. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class in 1952, which also included role as editor of the yearbook with his future wife as assistant. Norm received a regent’s alumni scholarship, and went on to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he was inducted into the engineering honorary, Tau Beta Pi.

In 1955, he married his childhood sweetheart, Gloria Meier, and they both continued working on their degrees at the U of M. After being awarded his Master’s Degree in 1957, Norm was employed by Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, NM, where son, Matthew, was born. Norm then returned to Ann Arbor where he was employed, including wind tunnel aerodynamics at U of M. Norm completed course work for his Professional Degree and son, Douglas, was born.

For many years, Norm was employed by Williams International in Walled Lake MI. He worked on small gas turbine engines for aircraft, which included the cruise missile and one of the first flying jet engine platforms, called the X-Jet. Norm was also employed by GM late in his career, where he worked on catalytic converters. He always enjoyed using his engineering skills at work as well as home related projects, and this undoubtedly influenced sons Matt and Doug, who pursued engineering careers themselves.

He carried his love for aircraft throughout his life, starting with model airplanes. As a teenager he belonged to the Air Scouts in his home town of Coldwater MI. His mother learned to fly, two of his uncles were pilots, and his younger brother Del also became a private pilot. It’s no surprise that Norm would finally take flying lessons. He earned his Recreational Pilots License and once took wife, Gloria, for a ride, circling over their MI home near a lake. Norm took that airplane interest to the level of building a small two place Sonex Aircraft that he and Gloria would be able to fly. The wings, tail and some fuselage were built before his eyesight prevented the aircraft’s completion.

Another retirement project included writing a book about the life of an ancestor on his mother’s side, Daniel C Jacokes, titled “An Amazing Preacher”. This genealogy project took some years of research, including out of state trips, resulting in several hundred pages. Norm also wrote a touching note “We Knew” to Gloria on their 57th anniversary. It chronicled their lifetime of 68 years together starting in the ninth grade.

Norm enjoyed sailing which was shared with sons Matt and Doug as they grew up, starting with a sunfish, graduating to somewhat larger sailboats in MI. And the family loved trips to northern Michigan and Mackinac Island, where all enjoyed boating on lakes and biking Mackinac.

Norm and Gloria were able to have their dream house built 10 miles north of Ann Arbor in a lake region and thoroughly enjoyed 17 years there. It included a sunroom and deck overlooking a sloping, nature area where deer, owls, wood ducks were seen along with a few pesky racoons. Sons, Matt and Doug, always looked forward to their travel visits home as well.

After working years spent in MI, retirement drew Norm to AZ, where some family connections and visits had introduced the warmer clime. He and Gloria spent the next 22 retirement years in Rio Verde AZ, with 15 of those years traveling up to cooler high country in the summer to a much loved Pinetop condo.

In Rio Verde, Norm and Gloria helped to get Pickle Ball courts started there, including the initial courts that grew into four frequently used courts. They both enjoyed walking and biking in the two Verde Communities and took active parts in community groups. During this period of his life, Norm took great joy in the birth of his grandson Trever, and proudly watched him grow to be a sports minded active boy who learned to play hockey. He and Gloria watched many of his hockey games over the years, and were always very proud of him.

So that Norm and Gloria could be closer to son Matt and son Doug (and his immediate family, daughter-in-law Renee and grandson Trever), Norm and Gloria moved to Laguna Hills CA early in 2022. Norm enjoyed many visits and get-togethers the family had in AZ and CA.

Norm was a very important part of the lives of those who surrounded him, we will all miss him greatly. Norm is survived by his wife Gloria, son Matt, son Doug and daughter-in-law Renee and grandson Trever, brother Del and sister-in-law Penny, sister-in-law Gretchen.