Renate Pelzer Norum

Renate Norum of Northbrook, Illinois, passed away on October 10, 2026 at the age of 87. She was born on September 7, 1939, in Rostock, Germany, and spent her early years in Kyllburg, Germany. Renate came to the United States with her parents in 1952 and settled in Chicago, Illinois.

She married David Norum in 1963 and settled in Northbrook, Illinois, where they raised their daughters Karin and Kirsten. She was actively involved with her girls’ activities but also found time for her own hobbies and volunteering. She skated in the Northbrook on Ice Show with her daughters and volunteered with David at the Northbrook Historical Society. She and David had season tickets to Northwestern football for more than 25 years and were rewarded with a trip to the Rose Bowl in 1996. Renate loved art, theater, and the opera. She was passionate about volunteering and doing backstage tours for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Renate was an avid reader and loved her crossword puzzles. She enjoyed Friday night tennis with David and later became an accomplished golfer at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Illinois and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, Florida.

Later in life she was blessed to meet Dale Pate who became a treasured part of her life and family. Having both lost their spouses, they shared a wonderful partnership for their next stage of life.

She was the matriarch of her family and adored her grandchildren. She was known for her trips to Minnesota where she would attend every possible activity to support them and tried to never miss their big moments. A highlight was when she took her family to Germany to show her grandchildren where she was raised and to reunite with dear friends and extended family. She had more energy than everyone else, averaging 20,000 steps a day, energized by being back in her home country.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Joann Pelzer, and her husband, David Norum. She is survived by her partner Dale Pate, her daughters Karin (Jon) Johnson and Kirsten (Tom) Muller, and her grandchildren Linnae (Jimmy) Ankrom, Matthew (Jordan) Muller, Annika Muller, Krista Johnson, and Breanna (Logan) Jaeger.

She spent the last three years of her life up in Minnesota, close to her family. A special thank you to all the health care providers, particularly the amazing staff at Trouvaille Memory Care in Excelsior, Minnesota, for their care and devotion and making music such a big part of her final year.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at the Village Church of Northbrook at 1300 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL 60062, on November 14 at 11 am, followed by a luncheon at Sunset Ridge Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to BeneTrou, Inc. (Trouvaille Benevolence Fund) or the Lyric Opera of Chicago.