Veteran Norman Siler was honored by Kenosha for Arbor Day. | File Photo
Veteran Norman Siler was honored by Kenosha for Arbor Day. | File Photo
The final Arbor Day celebration of Kenosha is in honor of a local Air Force veteran.
The city’s final Arbor Day celebration of 2021 was held on Aug. 9 in honor of the late Norman Siler.
Siler was an Air Force veteran and served the Kenosha Transit Commission until his death in 2019. Prior to that he worked for 17 years at the Chicago & Northwestern Transportation Company.
"A person of endless enthusiasm. Always enthusiastic. Whether it was positive or negative, there was just incredible enthusiasm," Norman's son Nick Siler said.
Kenosha News reported that a maple tree was planted in his honor in fall of 2020, but the official ceremony was delayed to allow his family members the chance to make it. The paper also reported that there were heavy rains at the event, fitting given Siler's interest in the weather, and that attendees found shelter underneath the Pennoyer Park band shell. Six other community leaders also had tributes dedicated to them, four of whom died in 2020 and the other two in 2019.
Twenty-five of Siler's family members were present at the celebration in his honor. Four state representatives and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian were also in attendance.
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