Frank A. Norcross, 87, Former Sheffield Township Fire Chief
Frank A. Norcross, age 87, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday September 4th, 2022 at Mercy New Life Hospice in Lorain after spending more than a month in the intensive care unit due to a bad fall suffered at his home.
Frank was born at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain on May 7, 1935 and was a 1953 graduate of Vermilion High School; he had been employed as a gas service man for many years by Ohio Fuel / Columbia Gas.
In 1961 he enlisted in the Army National Guard and fulfilled duty assignments as a PMOS Armorer attached to Company B, First Infantry Battalion, 145th Infantry; at the time of his discharge he held the rank of Sergeant and was rated as an Expert in the use of the M-1 rifle.
In 1960 he joined the Sheffield Township Fire Department which quickly became his greatest love. He served as both a firefighter and EMT with the department and eventually was elevated to role of Chief. After suffering a heart attack, he was forced to retire from fire service following a career that spanned more than a half century as a first responder. He found his retirement to be difficult, but he continued to remain engaged by assisting at events and monitoring fire calls on his portable radio.
He is survived by his younger sister and brother-in-law Kathryn Kress (Ken), daughters Tammy Haslage, Lori Husar (Richard), and Alyssia Jones (Jesse). He also leaves grandchildren Hannah, Sarah (fiancé Hardy Hall), Nikolaus (Samantha), and Joshuah Husar (Jordan). Asa Haslage, and Christopher Jones, along with great grandchildren Ariannah, Noah, Emmah, Katalynah, Rhett, baby Tripp due to arrive later this month, Scarlett, Hunter, and Daisy, as well as great great granddaughter Iyla. He also leaves a host of nieces and nephews.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents Frank M. and Alice (nee Whittaker) Norcross, and sisters Dorothy Hitzkie and Barbara Green.
Visitation will be Thursday September 8th from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel. Reverend Lorri Bandagski, pastor of Bethel Chapel will officiate. Burial will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where military honors will be conducted by Amvets Post # 32 of Elyria.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions in Frank’s memory to either of two organizations which were very important to him: The Bethel Chapel Building Fund – 4065 Broadway Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052 or the Sheffield Township Fire Department Association – 4600 Broadway Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052.
To share your memories, please visit www.gluvna.net.