Obituary: Kay Frances Norgaard

Kay Frances Norgaard (August 13, 1935 — January 17, 2026)

Kay Frances Norgaard (Thomas), 90, from Manchester, Mich., passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026. Kay’s family and friends will gather from 2pm to 4pm, Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Eineder Funeral Home, 207 E Duncan St, in Manchester, Mich., and from 10am to 11am on Monday, February 2, 2026, at Bethel Church, 10425 Bethel Church Rd, Manchester, Mich. Funeral service will be held at 11am on Monday, February 2, 2026, at Bethel Church following visitation. Pastor David Bucholtz and Pastor Joseph Fox will serve as co-officiants. 

Kay was born on August 13, 1935, in Delaware, Ohio, to Jay and Elma (Warehime) Thomas. Kay married the love of her life, Clark Norgaard, on December 26, 1957, in Onsted, Mich., and was married for 54 years. She graduated from Onsted High School in 1954. Kay attended Sienna Heights University. She taught kindergarten for a short time but spent most of her life working alongside her husband, Clark, running their family dairy farm. She loved horses and traveling, even going to Paris in 2021, and never missed the annual seed trip with her farmer friends. Kay lived a life serving God and was devoted to her family. Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.

Kay will be missed by her children, Eric (Elizabeth) Norgaard from Newbury, Mass., Kurt (Sandy) Norgaard from Mason, Mich., Joel (Diana) Norgaard from Grand Blanc, Mich., and Kreg (Laura) Norgaard from Manchester, Mich; her daughter-in-law, Barbara (Kevin) Norgaard-Byrns from Traverse City, Mich.; her sisters, Karen Roback and Karla Thomas; her grandchildren, Joshua, Caleb (Lianna), Stephanie (Josh), Elizabeth, Skyler (Logan), Evan Grace, Kate, Kacy (Connor), Lukas, Jackson, and Cole; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Clark; infant daughter, Judith Lee; her son, Kyle; and her brother-in-law, Wayne Roback.

In  lieu of flowers, a contribution is suggested to Medical Team Hospice, 5406 Gateway Centre Blvd, Suite F, Flint, MI 48507, or Smile Train at smiletrain.org/take-action. Please leave a message of comfort for Kay’s family or sign her guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com

Please leave a message of comfort for Kay’s family or sign her guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.