Donald Noren:
CLASS OF 1955
Zion Benton Township High SchoolClass of 1955
Zion, IL
American Institute of BankingClass of 1980
Chicago, IL
American Institute of BankingClass of 1971
Chicago, IL
Central Junior High SchoolClass of 1951
Zion, IL
CCC Parochial SchoolClass of 1949
Zion, IL
Donald's Story
Life
I was born and raised in Zion. 4th generation on my mother's side of the family to live in Zion. The Christian Catholic Church was our church and I went to church school, Junior Band, Concert Band, Junior Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Choir and taught Freshman High School church school.
Rev Dr Charles L Kessler was in charge of the high school church school and he is the most significant person in the direction that my life has taken. I have a sister, Ann Noren Marsh, who is 8 years younger than I am and is the widow of Dr Robet Marsh who for 30+ years wrote fine arts reviews for the Chicago Sun Times.
My wife, Lynn (Rider) Noren, met at the former Citizens National Bank (now 1st Midwest) in Waukegan in September 1958 and we were married September 16, 1961 at Memorial United Methodist Church in Zion. We have 2 children, Gloria (Mrs Thomas) Kaye and John Larsson. We have 3 grandchildren, Greg Kaye (senior at St Norbert College, DePere, WI),Alex and Daniel Larsson. The Kayes live in Green Bay WI and the Larssons live near Perth, Australia. I retired from the US Army Reserve after 28 1/2 years of service in 1983. 25 years were with the 85th Divison Band. I retired from Zion State Bank (later Premier, 1st of America, National City Bank) 12-31-99 after 41 years of service. Since 1967 I have been in a variety of leadership posts at Memorial UMC Zion. Teaching an adult church school class and serving as a certified lay speaker with preaching and writing liturgy have been the most rewarding of any of my activities. Shalom.
School
I attended Kindergarten through 6th grade at the college building where I also attended church school classes on Sunday morning. We were the first 7th grade class to attend the newly completed Central Junior High School. Then I was a student at ZBTHS Pearce campus 1951 - 1955. The high school band was my favorite thing. I started on alto sax and then clarinet. In addition to t...Expand for more
he high school band I played with the 85th Division Band US army reserve, the Christian Catholic Church Junior Band (director, Dave McElroy),Concert Band (director, John Studebaker also my dentist), Junior Orchestra (director, Marietta Giehle), Symphony Orchestra, church choir. I wish I would have studied harder and selected college prep courses. My toughest class was Biology with Gerald Mason (also a trumpet player).
College
I was a student at the Chicagoland American Institute for Bankers from the late 1950s through the 1980s taking night classes working toward an Associate Degree in Banking and Finance.
Workplace
I started working for my father, Walter Noren, at the Zion Dairy when I was 13 years old. Immediately after high school I worked at Warwick Electronics in Zion for 3+ years. In September 1958 I worked at Citizens National Bank (now 1st Midwest)of Waukegan where I met and later (Sep 16, 1961) married Lynn Rider (Antioch HS class of 1955). In February 1961 I started work at Zion State Bank where I was a teller, auditor, operations officer, drive up teller, safe deposit clerk retiring 12-31-1999. Post retirement I worked part time as the custodian at Memorial UMC in Zion until August 2004.
Military
In 1953 at age 15 I attended rehearsals and performances of the 85th Division Band US Army Reserve at Farnsworth, Great Lakes, and later at the Waukegan Reserve Armory, 1721 McAree Rd., Waukegan.
I joined the band when I turned 17 years old with my father's written permission. I had no plans to stay in the band any longer the minimum but I enjoyed serving in the band and reenlisted many times.
The band served two week summer training a wide variety of Army places over the years: Fort McCoy, WI, Fort Sheridan, IL, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Dix, NJ, Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Knox, KY, Fort Polk, LU, Fort Campbell, KY, The friendships made over 28 1/2 years were the greatest.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
