Treasured Time with Dad (Oct '11)

While in the middle of working in the Japan Disaster, our kind employer, Medical Teams International, made it possible for us to visit my (Anders') dad in his bout with cancer- twice in fact.  I felt in a constant state of struggle between responsibilities- leading CRASH Japan where God had surely brought us to provide "heart care" to dampen the emotional impact upon the remaining survivors or to spend precious remaining time with Dad who had been the best example of a unconditionally loving father and who taught me how to "fix anything" including why I was in Japan- fixing organizational problems.  It seemed that he didn't know why we had come the first time in June- probably thought a friendly visit, as we helped him crack out walnuts and would sit with him at his farmer's markets while he cut jokes and small talk with other sellers that he knew so well.  But, the second trip he knew why we had come.  In fact my sister had called to say that Dad had realized the terminal diagnosis and asked, "I want to see Andy and Lori before I go."  

We rescheduled our flights with aid of a kind friend's buddy passes and made the hard trip home.  It was hard to see my big muscular dad become so frail and instead of insisting on helping others, having to deal with us insisting on helping him.  It was an emotional rollercoaster with periods of happiness to see visiting family and to be reminded about the certainty of where he would be going.  November 1st he woke from his comatosed state to say "I love you" to each of us before nodding back off asleep.  That night my parents' worship pastor felt the necessity to come  by unannounced and strum worship songs to which he responded.  The next morning we found him passed on.  

It was such a hard mix of feelings to describe- utter sadness that he's gone, complete joy that we will see him again and for his new body which is cancer free.  The hospice nurse said, "It was the most peaceful death I have ever seen."  It is such a privilege to look back on a father that I can't remember ever being upset with me and remember as being so generous and always doing the right thing- just like my heavenly father.

-Obituary-

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, Franklin “Hank” Norcutt went to be with his heavenly Father.  Hank was born on the family farm in Lucan, MN in 1933. He spent four years in the Air Force, before joining Douglas Aircraft, as an engineer- mechanic for the first Vandenberg missile program.He later worked for Coastal Earthmovers and Santa Barbara County. He enjoyed his retirement years by returning to his love of farming and tending to his walnut trees.He could be seen joyfully greeting and chatting with friends and vendors alike while selling walnuts at the Santa Maria and Lompoc Farmers Markets. He made two short term mission trips, the first to Romania in 1998 and second to Thailand and Burma in 2009, serving alongside his family.

Hank was a precious and Godly man, with his first love being his Lord Jesus.  As all could see, he was lovingly devoted to his entire family- married to his wife Arlene for 52 years, and having three children: Krystal Norcutt, Carrie (Scott) Smith, and Anders (Lori) Norcutt; and three grandchildren: Kaeli, Zachary, and Anika Smith.  Hank was part of a large ine family and is survived by brothers and sisters: Gwendolyn Bruns, Russ Norcutt, Beverly Quam,Richard Norcutt, Marjorie Schubring, Ramona McAdams, Ann Rolland, Grant Norcutt, Vicki Norcutt-Cairy,  Kendall Woods, and numerous dear nieces, nephews and friends. 

His family fondly remembers the precious years of opening the doors of “The House that Hank Built” to gatherings of great fellowships and joyous times together.