Norman Willadsen Kair, 96, a longtime resident of Aurora, Colorado, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, at an assisted living care facility in Golden, Colorado.

Born on November 26, 1929, in Newell, Iowa, Norman proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1963, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant. He served across the United States and internationally in Okinawa, Japan, and South America as a Radio Mechanic, Radio Repairman, and Technical Instructor. Following active duty, he continued his dedication to the Air Force for another 20 years as a Technical Instructor Supervisor at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora. After retiring from federal service, he spent a decade at Budget Rental Car — a job he genuinely enjoyed because it let him drive new cars every day.

Norman was a man of strong Lutheran faith and the resourceful, self-sufficient spirit of his generation. After leaving active duty, he first settled in Maryland, where he tended large gardens, grew his own food from seed, and became a skilled handyman who handled most repairs from his well-equipped workshop. In 1975, he and his family moved to Aurora, Colorado, where he lived for the rest of his life until moving to assisted living in 2025.

Norman cherished sharing stories from his years of Air Force service, particularly the places he was stationed in and the experiences he gained. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Norman married Audrey Gail Kair on July 16, 1960. They shared 60 years of marriage until her passing in December 2020. In retirement, Norman enjoyed driving his wife on road trips across the country, including two memorable journeys to Alaska.

He is survived by his two children, Linda and Michael; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 21 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home, followed by interment with military honors at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Norman’s name to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Please visit Norman’s memorial page at the Veterans Legacy Memorial.