George Philip Norbeck's Obituary
George Philip Norbeck, of Woodside, California, passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on July 24, 2026.
Born on January 15, 1937, in Vermillion, South Dakota, George was raised in nearby Redfield, where he enjoyed an active childhood with his two sisters Judy and Mary, and cousins Carl and Jane. After graduating from St. Olaf College, he followed a calling to medicine, earning his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and then joined the Air Force as a flight surgeon for two years of active duty, which brought him to California. He then went on to earn a master’s degree and complete his psychiatric residency at UCLA.
George proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and the California Air National Guard. He served as a Medical Corps (MC) officer and California State Air Surgeon (SAS), fulfilling duties related to Air National Guard (ANG) and USAF aerospace medicine. He retired as a Colonel after 20 years of military service.
George met his first wife, Joyce Erickson, at St. Olaf. They married and had four children: John, Kari, Kirsten, and Tyra. One of his favorite periods was the two years the family spent living in Sweden, where George learned Swedish and worked as a psychiatrist in a Swedish hospital. Upon returning to the United States, they settled in Palo Alto, California.
He devoted his professional life to caring for others as a psychiatrist, serving at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he was Chief of Inpatient Psychiatry and later Chief of Outpatient Psychiatry and was an emeritus clinical faculty member associated with Stanford Medicine. He was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association for his contributions to the field.
In 1977, George married Mary Jeanette Maahs and added her children David and Diane to his family. Living in Woodside, Mary taught him horseback riding. He joined the San Mateo Mounted Patrol and rode for 30 years, serving the county, including one year as Captain in 1999. He was a favorite at their 4th of July rodeo, singing the national anthem every year. He also made many a grown man cry, performing the “Empty Saddles” tribute to members who had passed on. George loved singing in choirs, performing in musical theater, and playing the trombone in local orchestras and concert bands.
Besides being a father to John (Tara), Kari, Kirsten (David), and Tyra (Greg), and stepfather to David (Rebecca) and Diane (Vedat), he was a proud grandfather to seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
George will be remembered for his compassion, faith, love of music and learning, and dedication to his patients. His warmth, wisdom, sense of humor and adventure touched the lives of all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Mary; all children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his two sisters, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit George Norbeck and Winfree Virginia Farmer Norbeck.
A celebration of George’s life will be held on August 12, 2026, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Menlo Park, followed by interment at Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to a veterans’ organization, mental health charity, or music education program in his memory.
May his memory be a blessing.
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