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City Honors Norm VanSparrentak (1959-2011)

(from City Council resolution, 11/14/2011)

At a Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ferndale, Oakland County, Michigan, held in the Council Chambers at 300 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, Michigan 48220 on the 14th of November, 2011. The following Resolution was moved by Council Member and supported unanimously:

Norman P. VanSparrentak, 52, of Sterling Heights, a retired firefighter with the Ferndale Fire Department, died October 26, 2011. He was born October 4, 1959 in Deols, France to Norman and Delores VanSparrentak;

Norm joined the Ferndale Fire Department in June of 1994 and retired in June of 2010. He served as a firefighter, paramedic, and hazardous materials technician for 16 years and was Firefighter of the Year in 2002; and Norm served in the United States Army during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 1991, and was deployed twice as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves during Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2002 to September 2003 and July 2005 to September 2006; and

The City of Ferndale adopted a Resolution of Support in 2002 as Norm left the department for his first tour in Operation Enduring Freedom. He received many medals and commendations during his service to our country, including the Purple Heart; Joint Service commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (awarded twice); Army Achievement Medal (awarded 4 times); Kuwait Liberation Medal and many others; and Norm was extremely devoted to the Ferndale Fire Department and the U.S. Military.

He enjoyed spending time with his children and liked being outdoors; and Norman P. VanSparrentak will be missed by many, but especially by his children, Jennifer, Megan, Nicole and Kevin; mother, Delores; siblings, Keith, Kenneth, and Andrea Allen; and his friends in the Ferndale Fire Department.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, Ferndale’s elected officials, do hereby extend our Community’s condolences to the family of Norman P. VanSparrentak.