Norman C. Buettner was born on Wednesday November 24, 1937 at 9:27 AM at the Lewis Memorial Maternity Hospital in Chicago, the second son of Herman Buettner (07/26/1901 – 08/01/1984) and Agnes Etteldorf (06/20/1903 – 06/01/1978). He was baptized at Visitation Parish and his first home was 5610 S. Elizabeth Street. Norm attended St. Christina Grammar School and completed his studies at St. Willibrord’s High School in 1955. He and his family moved to Alsip (11953 Ridgeway Av.) during his teenage years. He became involved with the Alsip volunteer Fire Department with whom he served for over a decade.
Norm’s true love was Scouting. He started Explorer Post 2780 in the early 1960’s and served as its principal advisor for over 15 years. More than just a meeting facilitator for the youth of Alsip and Blue Island he became the role model for countless youth members. Norm always lacked pretension and tried to spur the interest of his “children”. He and the Post (classically led by President John Clement) traveled to Philmont, Pike’s Peak, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, the Badlands of South Dakota, and to numerous national explorer meetings on their annual trips. It was always an adventure with Norm, Little Bear (his faithful canine companion), and the old motor home.
Norm received his Scouter’s Award in 1969, was recognized by Chippewa District with the Award of Merit in 1971, and received the Scouter’s Key in 1972. He served as an Explorer Advisor, District Camping Chairman, Unit Commissioner, and Merit Badge Counselor throughout the history of Chippewa District (Alsip, Blue Island, Palos areas) from 1967 to 1980. Norm was inducted into the O/A at Camp Crete on in May 17, 1969. This started his lifelong passion for the Order and its works. He forged many close friendships that endured for the remainder of his life.
While still an Ordeal member, he served as the Chapter’s Advisor from 1970 to 1972. On May 23, 1971, he sealed his membership in the Order by accepting the obligations of the Brotherhood Honor at the Ojibwa Chapter Fellowship at Camp Crete. Chapter meetings were held anywhere from the Memorial Park Fieldhouse in Blue Island in the early 1970’s to Jim Mess’ basement in the mid-1970’s. Home became the Blue Island Knights of Columbus Hall at 12334 S. Western Av. for over five years after the reactivation of the Chapter in 1975 by Norm as Advisor and Tony Young as Chief. Fellowships and work projects were planned, refreshments were served, the bowling machine was given a workout, and everyone enjoyed the company of his fellow Arrowmen. Norm served as advisor to three more Ojibwa Chapter Chiefs (Bill Schade, John Peterson, Francis Podbielski). For his outstanding efforts, Owasippe Lodge recognized Norm with the Vigil Honor. He faithfully kept that Vigil on the night of August 6, 1976, the following day becoming known forever more as Wipungweu Psakulin, or the Brown Squirrel.
Chapter Fellowships were held at Bridgman, Camp Crete, and Yorkville, but it was Norm and his staff that returned our annual pilgrimages to Bridgman in 1973 on a permanent basis. Norm would put out the word, and anyone without a ride (candidates, senior Arrowmen, groupies) would assemble at the trailer in Cal Park and pile into the mobile home for the ride of his life on the serpentine and pothole-ridden service road from the Red Arrow Highway to the First Church Camp. With the exception of 1980 when Ojibwa and Nuwingi Chapters merged, Norm’s introduction of the chapter to Bridgman resulted in Chapter Fellowships being held there from 1973 to 1989. It was only the sale of the camp to the state of Michigan in 1989 that ended the chapter’s love affair with the rolling sand dunes, a slowly sinking kitchen, and the grand firebowl amongst the Michigan pine trees.
Norm insisted on attending the monthly Lodge Executive Committee Meeting with the Chapter Chief and any other interested parties, to ensure that the Chapter’s voice was always heard by the Lodge. About 45 minutes into the meeting, the question would inevitably arise – where to eat afterward. Would it be the Pickle Barrel on North Wells Street, or Lum’s in Old Town, perhaps Alferno’s on Clark Street, maybe Giordano’s on Rush? In any event, an exit strategy would be devised, and while no one was looking, we would quietly slip away to transact chapter business.
The impact Norm had on the Order of the Arrow in Chippewa and Sauk Trail District, and now Arrowhead District is inestimable. Between Norm and his disciples, the O/A was steeped in tradition and guided as such for almost thirty years. Norm was an accountant/auditor by trade. The records so painstakingly started and kept by Dan Reilly as one of the Chapter’s original advisors were handed down to Norm who was no less fastidious in his devotion to record-keeping. These same records were coveted, preserved, and augmented by Advisors Tony Young and Francis Podbielski. These records provide an unbroken history of the chapter from its birth from Moqua Chapter in 1954 until its final dissolution as Achewon in 2001. Norm instilled many organizational and leadership skills in the youth he led, as well as a passion for autonomy. Norm took pride that Achewon the largest and most efficiently run chapter in Owasippe Lodge for the majority of its 21-year history (1980-2001).
In his personal life, Norm never failed to answer the call of his family. With his mother’s death in 1978, his elderly father was left alone in Punta Gorda, Florida. Norm made one of the most difficult decisions of his life and relocated to Florida the first week of October 1980. Within two years, disaster after disaster struck. His father died, he lost his job, his health began to fail, and his Little Bear died. He struggled to survive by living with friends and working odd jobs as a convenience store clerk and personal caretaker. He was forced to sell his parents’ home in Punta Gorda and moved to Texas, where his health decline continued. In 1994 he became so ill that he spent several weeks in an intensive care unit on a mechanical ventilator. After discharge he was remanded to a nursing home where he lived for what seemed an eternity.
The story almost ended there, but he and his Scouting friends never lost touch. After a conversation in 1998 in which he remarked that, “I live with a bunch of dead and dying crazy people. I don’t want to die in this nursing home,” another plot was hatched in the fine tradition of Achewon Chapter. With coordination by Francis Podbielski, Tony Young and John Clement took a 1200-mile road trip to Brazoria, Texas and showed up at the doorstep of that nursing home in late September 1998. Norm was dumbfounded and cried tears of joy as he and his belongings were cheerfully packed up and he was returned the life in Chicago he lost twenty years prior.
Within six months, Norm was again serving as a Troop Committee member (Boy Scout Troop 788) and had secured a new mobile home in Dixmoor. Although his membership in the O/A never lapsed, he returned to active duty in Achewon Chapter at its fellowships, merit badge clinics, and other activities. With the formation of Mantowagan Chapter in 2001 he stepped forward immediately and offered his services. He became the senior sage of which his experience and position in the Order of the Arrow made him eminently worthy. While never regaining his health completely, but he was independent and happy and relished in the activities of the Order. Norm passed away quietly at home on Saturday, October 25, 2003.
And at the end of the day, it really does not matter how much money you have, but rather how many people’s lives you touch in a positive way. It is in this sense Norm Buettner – the little Brown Squirrel – was one of the wealthiest men to walk the face of the Earth. May he rest in peace.
