2-06-2025 4:21am

Remembering Two Long Time Boyertown Area School District Teachers: Norm Hafsrud, Robin Sowers

Lesley Misko Editor

NORM HAFSRUD

Norm Hafsrud was a teacher, coach, class advisor. He also played professional basketball in a regional league and played tennis on a small professional tennis tour. His love for the ocean and fishing was legendary in the school district.

Ninety-three wonderful years on this planet. A lesson on how to live a good life.

Norm was the only child born to Norwegian immigrants. He was a proud first-generation American raised in Atlantic City during its golden years and was quick to tell captivating stories of celebrities and colorful characters that shaped his life as a young boy growing up in a rooming house on New York Avenue. Forced to feed his family at a young age he worked at all the major hotels, ran numbers, sold papers, shined shoes for one-footed soldiers, and most importantly learned how to catch fish. He would tell vivid tales of fishing with his father as a small boy in a row boat. Drifting out of the inlet on the outgoing tide and then 6 hours later returning with the incoming tide.

Many tales were told of his adventures of swimming out to sneak into the Steel Pier, with a change of dry clothes in a bag, to hear his childhood friend Gene Hart do the announcing for the Diving Horse. After the Diving Horse he was free to take in the orchestra or whatever headliner was playing. Norman was a true lover of music and theater and all live entertainment.

He was an athlete at West Chester University graduating with a bachelor of science degree when he caught the eye of a beautiful young woman named Susan Tinkler. Together they were the picture of youth and beauty. They would marry soon after college but not before Norm would join the Navy becoming a medic where he used his knowledge of anatomy and training. These years produced proud memories, many friends and many more entertaining stories.

Norman taught physical education at Boyertown High School, where he became a highly respected baseball and basketball coach for 25 years. He also taught sports injury courses at Penn State University. His young children would take turns getting wrapped, taped and splinted in preparation for his college courses. This allowed him to put all four of his children through college. He was the coach we all wanted and maintained friendships with his students and players that lasted until his death.

Life would bless Norm and Sue with four wonderful children: Ingrid (Ted Lyons), Amy (Johnathan Kusel), Greta (David Gilhooley), and Eric (Lani Alexander). This would lead to his pride and joy of 8 grandchildren.Teddy Lyons, Abby Lyons, Clarissa Kusel (Mohammad Karimi), Julia Kusel, Sheridan Kusel (Holly Kusel), DJ Gilhooley, Issy Gilhooley, and Cannon Alexander-Hafsrud. They all lovingly called him Pop Pop.

Pop Pop had two major loves in his life that he was most proud of: his beautiful wife Sue and his boat The Viking. Norm would retire from teaching in his 50’s and move to Ocean City to run his charter boat business full time as the Captain of The Viking. He would memorize all the tide charts and had a NOAA weather radio in every room. Norm would continue to create lasting friendships and connections through his repeat and lifelong customers. Everyone loved to fish with Captain Norm. Without exaggeration, we can say that he was something of a local legend and will be sorely missed as a fixture in South Jersey.

The angels came down on the last day of January and gently lifted Norm out of his boat and took him to Valhalla (Viking heaven) to feast with Odin in the great hall at the feet of the All Father. He was a great warrior. To a man we were all fortunate to love, fair winds and following seas.

We know that Norm is waiting at the Pearly Gates right now for the love of his life to join him before entering the kingdom of heaven. Rest easy Stormin’ Norman. Till thence’ve got your sidekick Sue.

A memorial service will be held in the spring when the fish will be biting again.

[Reprinted from Godfrey Funeral Home. ]

ROBIN SOWERS

Robin served as an English teacher at both Junior High East and the senior high. She closed out her teaching career as the librarian and yearbook adviser at Middle School East. The family hopes to honor her with a new Boyertown Bear that will be on display in East's library.

Robin L. (Wilhelm) Sowers, 66, of Birdsboro, passed away on January 31, 2025 in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Steven P. Sowers, whom she was married to for 43 years. Born in Elyria, OH, she was a daughter of the late Norman R. Wilhem and Joan C. (Hurd) Wilhelm.

She was a 1976 graduate of Hempfield High School in Greensburg, PA and received her Bachelor’s of Arts from Penn State University. Later, she received two Master’s degrees from Kutztown University; one in English and another in library science.

Robin was employed as an English teacher at Boyertown High School and then at Boyertown Junior High East. Later in her career, she became the librarian at East and yearbook advisor until her retirement in 2015.

Robin had many hobbies. She was an avid reader; she enjoyed sewing, gardening, skiing, and quilting. Robin was a member of the Boyertown Jr. Women’s Club where she was a past president, a member of the Birdsboro Jr. Women’s Club, a past president of the Elverson Garden Club, a member of The Berks Quilters Guild, and a member of the Flying Dutchman Ski Club.

For many years, she was a Girl Scout leader and Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Robin was a proud sports mom for her children. For many years she cheered for her children’s sports teams including Daniel Boone Boys Basketball, Daniel Boone Girls Volleyball, Daniel Boone Swimming, softball, tee ball, and the Maple Springs Swim Team. She also traveled around with her daughter for dance.

Robin was a nature enthusiast. She took pride in tending to her many flower beds and greenhouse, watching and naming all the birds at her many bird feeders. She took delight in making sugar water to put in her hummingbird feeders while enjoying an iced tea with lemon and a sweet treat at her kitchen table. She also enjoyed going to the Philadelphia Flower Show each year. Robin looked forward to helping judge different categories in the show and participating in some of the categories with her garden club. She also received many blue ribbons for her horticulture arrangements at local fairs and events. For many years, Robin volunteered as the caretaker of the herb garden at Joanna Furnace. Robin also volunteered at the Birdsboro Fishing rodeo every year where she enjoyed watching her family fish and working at the snack bar.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by a son, Matthew Sowers, of Gladstone, NJ; a daughter, Megan Sowers, of West Palm Beach, FL; a sister, Tracy Harrell, of Ashland, VA, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was predeceased by one daughter, Elizabeth Ann Sowers.

The family would like to thank Tower Health Home Hospice for their compassionate care for Robin.

A viewing will be held Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m-11a.m. at St Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, PA 19508. A service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Birdsboro Cemetery.

The family is planning on designing a Boyertown bear to be displayed in the Boyertown East Library. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Robin’s Library Bear Fund. Please make checks payable to, “Robin’s Library Bear Fund” P.O. Box 23 Douglassville, PA 19518.

[Obituary reprinted from Dengler-Sowers Funeral Home website.]