Eric Nordin

Eric Andrew Nordin, 71, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 1:22 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Born April 1, 1953, in Austin, Minnesota, Eric was the son of Wally and Lee (Campbell) Nordin. He was the first of three children. Eric grew up in Austin, was an avid horseman, cared for his horse in Austin, and while in high school he worked with horses at a youth ranch. Eric graduated from Austin High School in 1971 and subsequently completed a year of junior college. On July 19, 1975, Eric married the love of his life and girl of his dreams, Cindy, in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Together, they built a life filled with love and cherished family memories raising their two sons.

Early in their marriage, Eric and Cindy owned horses kept at Cindy’s parents’ hobby farm in Prior Lake. Eric and Cindy enjoyed trail riding together; Eric actually proposed to Cindy while riding double on Cindy’s horse 11 days after their first date. Eric also continued his education, earning a Basic Electronic Technology certificate, a Fundamentals of Electricity certificate, a Professional Selling Skills certificate, and a General Radiotelephone Operator License.

Eric and Cindy lived in Prior Lake for almost 50 years. Eric enjoyed a 38-year career at Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative where he worked in marketing, load management, and off-peak programs. When he retired in 2017, he had been a big part of the development of the automated meter reading program. Always interested in technology, he ran his own website  design business for a number of years, creating many websites, including for the Lake Waconia Triathlon, Eagle Creek Quilt Shop, and Cindy’s quilt pattern business. Eric was also very handy, changing the oil in his vehicles for many years, and kept up with any and all home maintenance. Eric and Cindy even remodeled just about the entire inside of their home on their own.

Eric’s abilities as a handyman were matched only by his sense of humor. He delighted in good clean jokes and his secret handshake. His laugh was infectious, he always had a smile on his face, and he always helped others.

Eric enjoyed spending summers up at the cabin his grandfather built on Leech Lake. Eric and Cindy made many special memories there with their children in the 80’s and 90s. Eric enjoyed walks with Cindy, going fishing with his sons, and employed a full range of handyman skills maintaining the cabin. He always seemed to catch walleye when he would fish after sunset on his own.

In retirement, Eric developed an interest and skill in woodworking, similar to his grandfather. He was involved in a woodworking group where he made Christmas candle holders, nativity scenes, and other similar items. However, the woodworking he was best known for was the holding crosses he would make out of all kinds of wood and apply various finishes to. He made hundreds of crosses over the course of a few years which he gave away to individuals as a ministry and to churches as well as other charitable and medical organizations.

Eric was always a devoted husband and father. A hopeless romantic, there was never any question that he considered himself the luckiest man on the planet to have Cindy as his wife. His parenting grew with his children and included roughhousing, digging snow caves, teaching them how to catch and hit a baseball, and always supported them as they pursued their interests. He was always interested and asked about what they were up to.

His faith was central to his life, and he spent countless hours studying the Bible and supporting others with its teachings. He came to know Jesus as his savior in 1980 and was involved in the community of believers ever since. He treasured the many close friendships he was gifted by being active in church and in his children’s lives. Shortly before and after his retirement, Eric was an active member of the church prayer team and led a small group.

Eric is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Cindy; his two sons, Mike (Courtney) Nordin, and Dan (Katie) Nordin; his two grandchildren, Walter Nordin, and Hunter Nordin; brothers, Jeffry (Christine) Nordin, and Timothy (Patti) Nordin.

Eric's legacy of love, creativity, and faith will continue to inspire all who knew him.

Funeral Arrangements

Details regarding the service will be shared at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Eric to Our Lady of Peace (https://ourladyofpeacemn.org/donate/).