Clair "Slim" Nordick

Clair Robert Nordick, affectionately known as “Slim,” 89, of Kent, MN, passed away at St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge, MN, on Monday, July 30, 2018. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2018, with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m., at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge. Visitation will resume at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, August 4, 2018, followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m., at Saint Thomas Catholic Church in Kent. Father Joseph Backowski will be officiating. Burial will take place immediately after the funeral Mass at Saint Thomas Cemetery, Kent.

Clair “Slim” Nordick was born on the family farm in rural Kent, MN, on June 19, 1929, to John and Martha (DeBoever) Nordick. He grew up and attended school in Kent; following his schooling, Clair began working on the family farm. On November 17, 1954, he was stationed in Germany while in the United States Army where he served his country until November 3, 1956. After being discharged from the army, Clair resumed working for his father on the farm. Eventually, he took over the family farm operations[IJ1]  until he retired at the age of 66.

Clair devoted much of his time to his career in farming. He raised hogs and cattle, and specialized in grain and row crops. Many knew Clair for being a simple man, avoiding modern accessories such as cell phones and, more notably, cabs on farm machinery. He dedicated himself to his 403 combine that had neither a cab or air conditioning. After half a century of operating without it, he wondered if he should have upgraded his combine sooner. He also loved his automatic grain truck. When he wasn’t in the field, Clair was active in the community at Kent where he religiously attended youth sporting events and taught gun safety classes. Hunting and fishing held a special place in Clair’s life; he reserved three acres of his crops for the wildlife to feed on so that families could bow hunt on his property. He loved the holidays and especially enjoyed chocolate chip cookies. Clair was involved in the American Legion in Abercrombie, the Kent Rod and Gun Club, and the Catholic Foresters. He was devoted to his Catholic faith and also served as a trustee at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kent and was a township clerk. After Clair’s retirement, he was happy to stay involved in the farming operations and considered himself blessed to have lived on the family farm the majority of his life. In September 2017, Clair made the decision to move to Twin Town Villa, and most recently, he resided at St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge.

Clair is survived by his sisters, Alice Sheridan and Geneva Miranowski; many nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. Clair was preceded in death by his parents, John and Martha Nordick; his brother, Donald Nordick; and his sisters, Sister Thomasine and Rita Yaggie.