John Clyde Norton, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Davenport on June 12, 2026.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 27, 1931, John was the son of Clyde John Norton and Lillian Alice (Winter) Norton. He grew up in Hampton, IL and went on to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.

Following his military service, John dedicated his life to higher education and learning. He graduated from St. Ambrose College in 1956 and later earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 1965. John spent five decades at St. Ambrose University, where he taught Political Science, and later Computer Science, from 1957 to 2007. During his tenure, he served as the Chair of the Political Science Department and spent five years as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Upon his departure from the teaching he was named Professor Emeritus and continued taking classes into his 90’s maintaining his identity as a lifelong learner and academic.

Through the years John was a member of several professional organizations including the American Political Science Association, the Midwest Political Science Association, the Iowa Conference of Political Scientists, and the American Association of University Professors.

On June 7, 1958, John married Virginia Wilhoit of Jacksonville, Illinois, at the Newman Chapel in Champaign, Illinois. Together they shared a beautiful life and were blessed with three children.

In addition to his work at St. Ambrose John learned to speak Spanish and completed an apprenticeship becoming a journeyman prosthetist. He then spent many summers volunteering at the Institute of Rehabilitation (Instituto Mexicano de Rehabilitación) in Mexico City, as well as in Guadalajara, Mexico, teaching local craftsmen how to produce and fit artificial limbs. He carried this spirit of giving until the very end as a proud organ donor.

Outside of academia and charity, John had a deep love for life and adventure. He was an avid reader, an enthusiast of British sports cars, and a talented photographer. He loved spending time on the banks of the Mississippi River, boating, RV camping, and traveling across the country with his children and grandchildren. In his final years, John lived with his son and daughter-in-law, whose exceptional care was deeply appreciated by the family.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia; his children, Monica (Randy) Weeks, Peter (Kirsten) Norton, and Charles (Becki) Norton; his brother, Frederick (Joanne) Norton; 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; and other loving family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Lillian; his sister, Elizabeth Daggett; and his granddaughter, Joann Weeks.

A private memorial ceremony will be held by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Ambrose University to honor John's lifelong dedication to the institution.