Norman J. Williston

WILLISTON, Rev. Norman J. 3/21/1935 – 3/2/2020 Norman James Williston was born in Menominee, Michigan to parents James Clifford and Ranetta Williston on March 21, 1935. Coleman, Wisconsin was his home for the early years of his life.His family, including two sisters, Judy and Marilyn, moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin for schooling through high school. While attending West High School in Green Bay, he played the baritone, which in those days, allowed the school band to play at the Green Bay Packers games.Along the way Norman had a strong call to Christian ministry.He had a goal, and he kept focused.While attending the University of Wisconsin, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart in 1956.Roberta then began the duty of putting him through the last year of school while he earned a bachelor’s degree.Various schools accepted him into seminary, but he finally chose Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, located just outside of Philadelphia.It may have been the offer of an immediate job for Roberta on the Seminary campus that helped sway his choice of this American Baptist Seminary.He earned a master’s degree and graduated from Crozer. Fieldwork was mandatory following graduation, and he joined the staff at First Baptist Church of Wilmington, Delaware where he was ordained as an American Baptist Minister. After two years, Norman and Roberta headed west to answer a calling to be the pastor of West Park Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.To augment the salary, he took on the position of Hospital Chaplain, calling on each person scheduled for surgery the next morning.It was a grueling schedule for both Norman and Roberta, who by this time was caring for three young children, Marcia, Greg and Linda.Norman had a vision for this wonderful congregation, and through his leadership, the original little church sold its building and built on a large piece of property which remains today as West Park Baptist Church. After ten years of service to his Lord in Cleveland, Norman was called to pastor a church in Cincinnati, Ohio.It was a fine choice for caring for a flock and seeing the numbers of believers grow.Son Mark was born, and the family of six lived in a small parsonage next door to the historic Wyoming Baptist Church. The next calling was to DeKalb, Illinois, a small agricultural community west of Chicago which proved to be a wonderful place to raise his young family.While he was Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church for the next 10 years, Norman recorded a weekly “Sunday School of the Air” radio program which broadcast every Sunday morning before he preached the weekly worship service. He also preached a Sunday evening service and taught a Wednesday evening Bible Study.During these years Norman also mentored many Seminary students needing to fulfill their Internship requirements. Calvary Baptist Church was a perfect final call.The congregation was warm and accepting, and the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska and purchased their first home after more than 30 years living in parsonages.Calvary was an active congregation with a Wednesday night children’s program which attracted neighborhood youth for dinner and bible lessons.In January 1996 at age 60, Norman retired from the formal setting of a spiritual leader of a congregation. Travel was Norman and Roberta’s passion.They saw some of the world, taking along a son, daughter or grandchild when appropriate and traveling to over 30 countries, some multiple times. Norman passed away on Monday, March 2 at age 85.He is survived by his wife, Roberta, children Marcia, Gregory and wife Laura, Linda and husband Kevin Call, Mark and wife Samantha.Grandchildren are Tyler Call, Reed Williston, Ryan Call, Autumn Call, Evan Williston, and Emma Williston. A Private Service was held on Saturday, March 21, 2020. He loved birthday parties, and this seems appropriate as a final 85th birth date gathering of family and friends.