Willis L. Nordlund

Willis L. Nordlund, age 95, of Parkers Prairie, formerly of Urbank, died on Friday, May 15, 2026, at McCornell Courts Assisted Living in Parkers Prairie under the care of Hospice of Douglas County.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank with Fr. Jeremy Theis officiating. Music is provided by Paul Malecha. Interment is at the church cemetery with full military honors accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard and the Inspiration Peak American Legion Post 527.

Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, May 19th, beginning with a prayer service at 5 p.m. followed by the rosary, at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Urbank. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Willis Lloyd Nordlund was born on March 3, 1931, to Roy and Minnie (Swenson) Nordlund in Leaf Mountain Township. He attended country school in Effington and Eagle Lake Township through the eighth grade and showed strong mechanical ability from a young age. To keep him engaged in school, his teacher often gave him “homework” such as changing spark plugs and helping with car repairs, sparking his lifelong career as a mechanic.

Willis enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, until his honorable discharge in May 1952. Following his service, he worked as a mechanic in Evansville, Ashby, and Parkers Prairie.

He married the love of his life, Joan Suchy, on September 8, 1954, at Grandpa Suchy’s farm near Urbank, and together they were blessed with seven sons. In 1957, he opened Nordlund Service in Urbank and moved his family there the following year. He took great pride in having all seven sons work alongside him in the business. He also enjoyed buying and restoring cars. In 1993, he sold the garage to his sons Steve, Mark, and Kenny, the same year Joan passed away after a battle with cancer.

Even after retirement, Willis continued helping his sons with machine work. Known as the “MacGyver” of toy making, he could fix or repurpose nearly anything and rarely saw anything as waste. He created countless wooden toys, steel guitars, and a steamboat model from matchbox sticks. At McCornell Court Assisted Living, he maintained a workshop in his room and even made cup holders for residents with motor scooters.

Willis enjoyed visiting friends and faithfully called family on birthdays, often singing to them. A self-taught musician who played by ear, he especially enjoyed electric guitar, and would record and share his music with others.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and former member of the Urbank Lions Club, where he held several officer positions. He will be remembered for his ingenuity, generosity, music, and the many ways he brought joy to others.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joan; son James; brother Charles; and sisters, Luella Nordlund and MaryAnn (Clarence) Hagen.

Willis is survived by his six sons, Tom (Lois) Nordlund, Steve (Bonnie) Nordlund, Mark Nordlund, LeRoy (Connie) Nordlund, Paul (Cheri) Nordlund, Ken (Angela) Nordlund; daughter-in-law, Laurie Nordlund; grandchildren, Nathan (Angie) Nordlund, Ryan (Lyndsey) Nordlund, Nicole (Ryan) Smude, Robyn (Jeff) Nyreen, Alex (Nick) Krueger, Abby Nordlund, Lynn (special friend, Travis) Barton, Shawn Nordlund, Stephanie (Kevin) Krohnfeldt, Joshua (Shauna) Nordlund, Samantha (Mark) Koep, and Dustin (Ashlee) Nordlund; great-grandchildren, Grace, Willis, and James Nordlund, Lillian, Lauren, and Lydia Nordlund, Levi, Aubrey, and Ellie Nyreen, Victor, Rosalyn, and Julietta Smude, James Krueger, Ava and Wyatt Barton, Kelsey and Cole Krohnfeldt, Aria and Allen Nordlund, and Parker and Avery Koep; along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are his sons. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.