Norvis Land, age 91, a resident of Warrenville, Illinois, passed away on Monday, July 11, 2022. He is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Beverly Land; daughters, Leigh Ann (Rebel) Roberts and Linda (Skip) Santos; and five grandchildren: Riley Roberts (Tina Thomas), Tyler Roberts (Danielle Wordelman), Caroline Roberts (Jonathan Osheroff), Catie Santos, and Ryan Santos.
Norvis was born on June 9, 1931, in Richland Springs, Texas, to RV Land and Lois Sanford Land. He grew up on the family farm and started elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Richland Springs High School. He met Beverly at Tarleton State College in Stephenville, Texas, in April of 1951. They were married on September 11, 1951, and moved to College Station where Norvis earned a degree in animal husbandry from Texas A & M.
After college, he was stationed in Wyoming and California with the U.S. Air Force. Upon completing his service, Norvis and Beverly moved back to Texas where Norvis started a long career in agricultural lending, first with the Production Credit Association and then the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank in Houston. In his work, he traveled the highways and byways of Texas, from the panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, working with farmers and ranchers. In 1970, he moved to the FICB in New Orleans where he was Senior Vice President until his retirement in 1986. In 2006, he and Beverly moved north to make their home in Warrenville, Illinois.
Church and family were always central to Norvis’s life. After being an active member and holding various leadership roles at churches in Houston and New Orleans, he and Beverly found a church home-with a supportive community and many wonderful friends-at Gary Methodist Church in Wheaton. Blessed with a retirement even longer than his 35-year career, he enjoyed home improvement projects and working with his hands: refinishing wood floors, installing countertops, hanging shutters-almost any project imaginable. His daughters’ homes benefited greatly from his time and effort, and he always had his toolbox when he came to visit. He also donated his time and talents to Habitat for Humanity New Orleans.
Norvis was a loving and caring husband and a beloved father and grandfather. He was a pillar of strength for his daughters and their families offering love, support, and wise counsel whenever and wherever they needed him. He enjoyed great barbecue, authentic Tex-Mex, and home-cooked meals with family. His sense of humor and stories of his life and family history were highlights of every gathering.
Norvis was also a steadfast friend who loved keeping in touch with friends and family across the country. He was welcoming, kind, and stubbornly independent. He was generous in spirit and always ready to help anyone who needed it but would never impose on anyone for a favor. His family will dearly miss his warmth, his wisdom, his sharp wit, and the grace and good humor he shared with us every day of his long and well-lived life.
A memorial service will be held at Gary Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20th. The family requests that all in attendance please wear masks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gary Methodist Church or Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton.