Carl William Nordeen, Jr.

Carl William “Bill” Nordeen Jr., 85, of Fairfield Glade, TN, passed away peacefully on August 2nd, 2023. Carl was born on November 28th, 1937 to Virginia and Carl Nordeen Sr in Glen Ellyn, IL. Carl spent his childhood years in Island Lake, IL with his sister Jerie. After graduating high school Carl joined the United States Marine Corps and spent his enlistment in the stark and beautiful Mojave Desert at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center outside of 29 Palms, California. Upon completing his commitment to the Marine Corps Carl moved back to Chicago, where he attended the University of Illinois at Chicago at the historic Navy Pier location, training in Chemistry. Carl spent the next 40 years of his life working for Abbott Laboratories in their pharmaceutical research lab. During his time at Abbott Labs helped create several new patented chemical compounds for use in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. He spent his time away from work serving as a volunteer paramedic with the Island Lake, IL fire department. Carl was an avid golfer for most of his life, playing courses in and around the Lake County, Illinois area. While working for Abbott Labs Carl met fellow chemist Mary Anne Thomas. They were married in 1976 and settled into a home in Waukegan, IL where they lived until 2003. Carl was an active member of the Abbott Laboratories Retiree Club for several years before he and Mary Anne moved to Fairfield Glade, TN where they have now lived for over 20 years. An involved member of the Fairfield Glade and Crossville community, Carl played in many golf leagues, taught computer classes and assisted with computer repairs as part of the Plateau PC Users Group, was a member of the Crossville Model Railroad Club, and worked with the Crossville unit of the Tennessee Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Mary Anne and Carl are supporters of the Cumberland County Playhouse, attending numerous performances and doing their part to support the arts scene in Cumberland County. Carl is survived by his wife Mary Anne (Thomas) Nordeen, sister Jerie (Nordeen) Tallman (husband Raymond), son Robert (wife Rebecca) and grandchildren William and Lindsey, and son Michael (wife Kelly) and grandchild Gabriella, along with countless family members and friends. Mass of remembrance will be held on September 7th at 10 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fairfield Glade, TN, with a luncheon to follow. Carl’s ashes will be interred in the columbarium at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The church offers live steaming of the service at (https://www.saintfrancisfairfield.org/live-stream) . In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Cumberland County (https://cumberlandhospice.org/), Hilltoppers (https://www.hilltoppersinc.com/) or your local charity of choice.