Norman R. Ziola Sr. passed away suddenly in his home overlooking Topaz Lake on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, right before his 78th birthday.
Norm was born on May 16, 1943 in Kansas City, Missouri and was adopted by Rudolph and Marge Ziola. Norm has a younger sister named Sandra. The family lived in the Chicago area during Norm’s formative years. Norm graduated from Morton High School in Berwyn, Illinois in 1961 and then served in the Air Force from 1961-65.
After being honorably discharged, Norm joined the Cook County Sheriff’s Dept. and was there for five years. Norm moved his family to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1970, joined the Metropolitan Police Department where he served for 25 years as a highly respected police officer moving from patrolman, to working in vice and narcotics until retiring as a homicide detective.
Not yet ready for retirement, Norm served as a Parole Commissioner for the State of Nevada for several years, then worked as Chief of Security of the Topaz Lodge for a few more years. Norm finally retired for real and learned to relax and enjoy hobbies like fishing, cooking and having beers over video poker while razzing bartenders.
Norm is survived by his wife Denise; sister Sandra, brother Bert; children Daisy and her husband Douglas, Donna and her husband John, and Norman Jr. and his wife Kristi; grandchildren Angela, Cadynce, Danae, Emma, Carman, Douglas; great-grandchild Claire; nephews Frank and Jeff; and constant canine companions Gizmo and Little G.
Norm is predeceased by his parents Rudolph and Marge Ziola.
Norm didn’t want any type of service, but his family will be honoring him with a dinner and stories celebrating his life. Please feel free to remember him over a toast of Miller Lite or however you choose.
He wasn’t a judgmental person (he teased and poked fun at people equally) and this quality is what made him such a great police officer.