Mark Norenberg

Celebrating Life

The Celebration of Life is this Saturday, February 17th at 2:30pm at the Nazarene Church in Baker City, Oregon.

Mark Steven Norenberg went home to be with Jesus on January 25, 2024, as the result of going through the ice on Phillip’s Lake on an ice fishing trip. He was born October 20, 1954, to Don and Ardis (Lillquist) Norenberg at Great Falls Air Force Base in Montana. The family moved to Cascade and then to Libby, MT before moving back to northern Minnesota where their family lived. Mark grew up on a farm near Cass Lake, MN, the oldest of five children. He learned how to work and how to innovate on the farm, characteristics which stood him well all his life. He also spent a lot of time on the water there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and on the ice in the winter. He knew how to fish, and he knew about ice fishing, both in small holes and in dark houses, spearing northern pike. His other great love was hunting but that came into its full measure hunting elk in the mountains of Eastern Oregon. Mark always remembered the mountains and after technical school in Thief River Falls, MN, he headed west where he wound up living in the mountains of Eastern Oregon for nearly 50 years. He loved working underground as a hardrock gold miner in several mines in the area. When the last mines in the area closed, he became a faller in the woods, then a log builder. He built many log homes around the Granite, Sumpter, and Baker area and a few a little further afield. He also did repairs and restoration on existing log homes. Mark married his true love, Cindy Jo Wilson, on September 10, 1978, on the beach at Winchester Bay, with seals barking in the surf. They soon moved to Granite, Oregon and built a “temporary” log cabin where they lived for the next 10 years with no running water and 3 electrical outlets. Three beautiful children were born to them while there. Mark built a sturdy log home just up the road where the kids grew up with goats, chickens, horses, and dogs. Mark taught them all how to work and the younger two how to hunt. He became serious about following Jesus early on in Granite and taught Bible studies for many years. Wherever he worked, hunted, or spent time with people, he shared his faith and will be remembered for the influence he had on people spiritually. Mark was ordained in 2004 and performed many marriages, including his daughter Meghan’s and his son Paul’s, and a number of memorial services. Mark also enjoyed playing music. He was an excellent guitar player and played rock solid rhythm for the Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers and the Granite Elderberries, an informal group of musicians who played together in Granite. Mark also began building cigar box guitars for something to do in the winter after he retired. His grandchildren, nephews, and many other people own cigar box guitars which he made. He also made amazing music with them and taught many others. Mark was an amazing can-do person who cut firewood for people and helped out in a number of ways. He will be sorely missed but he always said that he was ready to “depart and be with Jesus”, but he knew he was still needed here, so he hadn’t intended to go yet. But his back pain was worsening, so we are glad that he is free of that now and rejoicing with our Savior. Mark was preceded in death by his father, Don Norenberg, and his son-in-law Andrew Andersch. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Jo (Wilson) Norenberg, his three children, Meghan Andersch, Vivian Norenberg, and Paul (Shauna) Norenberg, adopted son Joe (Sarah) Johnson, 7 grandchildren, sisters Linda (Mark) Barkley, Becky Norenberg, brothers Charlie Norenberg and Joel (Pam) Norenberg, numerous nieces and nephews, and many brothers and sisters in Christ. Obituary courtesy of Coles Tribute Center.

Previous Page