On December 28, 2021, recently retired Dr. Dennis Norem, 68, was living his best life, skiing with family in the mountains of northern Arizona. A cerulean sky, the sparkle of laughter and sun on snow, and suddenly a fluke tumble.

Dennis, who had gone thirty years without a sick day, was faced with a spinal cord injury that resulted in quadriplegia. Months of difficult rehabilitation at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix supported by his wife, five adult children, and grandchildren followed. Tragically, after his release and return to Rockford, negative health consequences persisted until his death at home on July 26, 2022.

Born on September 28, 1953 at Rockford Memorial Hospital to Otto and Carol (Lenox) Norem, Dennis was the second son of a farming family in Caledonia, IL. He worked alongside his dad throughout childhood and remarked often that his childhood was all he could have asked for: loving, stable parents, playing on beautiful land peppered with animals. Those parents and fondly remembered church and 4-H camps impressed upon him the value of education, hard work, honesty, and being a man of his word. Dennis attended Belvidere schools and credited that solid education with his successes in college and medical school. While at Belvidere High School, he was a Varsity athlete in football, basketball and baseball. For the remainder of his life he could be found on a court, the slopes or behind a boat.

In 1978 at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center unit 4-East, while he was a medical student and she a nursing student, Dennis met the love of his life, Julia (Burwell) Norem. They were married in the summer of 1979 just after medical school graduation. A nightly ritual of saying, "I'm glad I have you," sustained them through nearly 43 wonderful years of marriage. They built a home on 8 beautiful acres in Boone County and enjoyed a full life there raising five of the best children parents could dream of having the honor to raise.

Dennis joined the Rockford Clinic (now Mercy Health) in 1982 and practiced there until he retired in 2020. He was on staff at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center and Wound Clinic where he cared for his inpatients over those years. He had a special place in his heart for the dedicated staff at OSF. He served as a consulting doctor at VanMatre HealthSouth for nearly 20 years, and deeply appreciated the staff and the patients there. Commitment to family and his profession were cornerstones of Dennis's character. Without complaint, he arose and went to work every day for more than four decades to put five kids through college, to provide a comfortable retirement for himself and Julia, and to serve his community. Such commitment carried into his dedication to his patients. He was well known throughout the Rockford community having served thousands of patients practicing office medicine and inpatient hospital care. He would see any patient, any time he was needed. There was no "schedule is full" for Dennis. Staff working with him marveled at what a loving boss and doctor he was. When he retired, he received hundreds of heartfelt notes from patients, patient family members, and colleagues from the medical community which, since his accident, have been frequent visitors.

Dennis was a graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford campus. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, where he was Chief Resident. Dennis's community service extended to many boards, as a volunteer coach for his children's sports teams, and for 30 years as a team doctor for Belvidere High School football. Serving as team doctor for the Rockford Ice Hogs also brought him great joy. He valued teaching the next generation of doctors and volunteered with the Rockford Health Council until his death to improve the health of the community and address health disparities. Over the years he held many leadership positions at Rockford Health (now Mercy Health). Highly important to him was his 40 years of service on the boards of the Winnebago County Medical Society (WCMS) and the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) where he rose to Speaker of the House. He always said he hoped he left medical practice a better place for his colleagues and patients. Some of his most treasured recognition includes: Community Leader Impact Award (Rockford Health Council), Distinguished Alumni (University of Illinois), Physician Leadership Award (WCMS), and Senior Student Leadership Award (University of Illinois).

Life wasn't all seriousness and service, though. Dennis was really funny! Especially when together with his friends and family he could keep people laughing until their sides hurt. He and Julia loved to dance. In medical school he was known as Disco Dennis! He was Julia's biggest support; encouraging her through undergraduate and graduate school, and as she rose in her own career.

However, by far, his greatest accomplishment in life was being a great father to the five wonderful children he so fiercely loved and a devoted Papa/Grandpa to the seven grandchildren he adored. Nothing in this world brought him more joy than family time; holidays, outdoor parties at home, attending the children's events and the many graduations. As the patriarch, he was the voice of wisdom and reason. Always lending a listening ear, needed advice, calm presence, and lots of hugs. The loss of his calm, loving presence seems too much to bear. We know he is forever with us, and we promised him to carry on his legacy of living a life of being kind to one another and serving our communities.

The family does not know how they would have gotten through these past seven months without the love, support and meals, so many friends and family have showered upon them. Special thanks to Dr. Link and the staff at Barrow Neurological institute to Rockford Compassionate Care Service caregivers, and Mercy Health Hospice staff. In addition, very special thanks to Dr. Fred Sweet for his love and for getting us home from Arizona; friends, Dr. Philip and Mary Seeber, Dr. Jon Monkemeyer, Dr. John Dorsey, Dr. Tom Dahlberg, Dr. Ken Korchek, Jeff Carlisle, Dr. John and Eileen Holtan, and Barbara D'Souza; best neighbors ever, Dennis and Diane Roop; brother-in-law, David Burwell; and sister-in-law, Mary Burwell.

Dennis is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 43 years, Julia (Burwell) Norem; his wonderful children, Chris (Nancy) Norem, Sarah (Michael) Chomiak, Natalie Norem, Dr. Nathan (Margaux) Norem, and Naomi (Henry Cook) Norem; his adored grandchildren, Megan Norem, Kaitlyn Norem, Colin Norem, Elizabeth Chomiak, Amelia Chomiak, Otto Olendorf, and Colette Olendorf; his loving mother, Carol (Lenox) Norem; brother, Gary (Joan) Norem; sister, Julie (Rob) Hawley; his in-laws, Gordon and Dorothy Burwell; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father, the great Otto Norem. Someone once said "You can cry that it's over or smile that it happened." The family are trying their hardest to smile.

Services are as follows: visitation, funeral services and a luncheon will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2821 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL, 61107. Family will receive friends on Friday August 12th, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held the following morning, Saturday August 13th, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, Dennis requested donations be made in his honor: c/o Miranda Swanson, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL, 61107. He has asked the school to establish a scholarship in his name to support medical students working on social determinants of health or health disparity projects. Please visit this link http://go.uic.edu/COMRgiving if able to donate to his memorial scholarship fund. After opening the link, go to the bottom and add "Dennis G. Norem, MD" to the recipient box.