Ellen N. (Norman) Aslin

Ellen Aslin (Ellen Ryan Norman) was born on March 17, 1925 in Ishpeming, Michigan to William & Geraldine Norman and passed away in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on November 20, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Robert M. Aslin, who passed away on January 8, 2015. Ellen is survived by her children James, Richard, Maureen, Thomas, & William and 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Ellen graduated from Ishpeming High School named as Salutatorian of her class. She then attended Michigan Technological University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and met her future husband, Bob Aslin. They were engaged before he left for service in Europe with the 3rd Army, 11th Armored Division. When Bob returned from service, they were married on August 10, 1946 and began their careers at Armour Research (Bob) & Baxter Laboratories (Ellen) in the Chicago area. A year later, they returned to Michigan Tech where Bob earned his Master’s degree and Ellen worked for Tech’s Forest Products Department. In 1948 they moved to the Milwaukee area and Bob began his career at Chain Belt which later became Rexnord. Ellen & Bob raised their five children in the Milwaukee area with a five year span spent in Naperville & Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

In 1950, before Jonas Salk developed his polio vaccine, Ellen then the mother of two boys (ages 2 & 1) contracted polio and was paralyzed from the waist down. Ellen was quarantined and treated for two weeks and then received six weeks of therapy at Columbia Hospital. By Christmas she was home, able to resume the role of parent/mother, and with more therapy, she returned to normal health.

Ellen was active in vocal choruses wherever they lived. Church choirs in Ishpeming, Glen Ellyn, Wauwatosa, and also the Bel Canto Chorus in their early years. An operation in 1980 to remove polyps on her vocal chords ended the ability to carry a tune and closed the chapter on her lifetime joy of singing.

Ellen and Bob travelled extensively and enjoyed being snowbirds after retirement. They spent many years splitting their time between Tucson, Arizona and Brookfield/Elm Grove, Wisconsin.

The Aslin family would like to thank the Harwood and Lutheran Home staff for their kindness and wonderful care provided to both Ellen and Bob.

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