Douglas Arthur Noverr

Douglas Arthur Noverr, university professor emeritus age 77, of East Lansing, Michigan died February 14, 2020. Doug was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, was the son of the late Joseph and Loretta Noverr and graduated from St. Philip Catholic Central High School. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Central Michigan University and his Ph.D. from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Doug is survived by his loving wife Betty of 51 years. He was preceded in death by his brothers Bill, David, and Jim and is survived by brothers Tom (Cindy), Frank (Toni) and sister Jean (Les) Laming as well as sisters-in-law Carolyn (Paul) Foster and Shirley (John) VanDam and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Noverr began his teaching in M.S.U.’s Department of American Thought and Language (ATL) in 1970 and retired in 2018. During those 48 years he held several leadership positions at M.S.U. and also published on a wide range of topics including popular culture, American art history and literature, sports history, and film history. A later capstone during his long career was the 2015 publication of the third and final volume of the M.S.U. Sesquicentennial History series. He was the associate editor of the Journalism of Walt Whitman Volumes 1, 2, and 3 and was currently working on Volume 4.

Doug was a longtime member of the Popular Culture Association and served in many leadership positions. He organized and directed international pop culture conferences at various cities that included those held in Turku, Finland and San Jose, Costa Rica. Visiting other pop culture sites in the U.S. such as Pigeon Forge, TN and Branson, MO and many American authors’ homes such as William Faulkner and Louisa May Alcott were additional highlights of their travels. Doug and Betty spent a year abroad in 1976-77 when Doug was a Fulbright professor in American literature at the Maria Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland.

Doug also used his creativity and love of learning to support his wife Betty’s 28-year teaching career at Winans Elementary School as her “Idea Man.” He was very much involved and created many of Betty’s yearly themes that she used to “hook” her students’ interest in learning!

A graveside service will be held in May at the Barnard Cemetery in Charlevoix, Michigan. Donations in Doug Noverr’s name may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Bread for the World (bread.org). Friends may leave condolences at www.greastlansing.com.