Dan O. Nordahl's first love was art, but finding a job as an artist was tough after World War II. So he became a Minneapolis patrolman, won commendations and painted portraits of seven officers killed in the line of duty, his family said. He was never shot in 25 years as an officer, but he was wounded once as a security guard.
Nordahl, 85, died July 29 in Edina from pneumonia and respiratory problems, said his wife of 64 years, Joy Nordahl.
A veteran of the Battle of Okinawa, he collected antique guns, military swords, helmets and other items that vied for space with his paintings, their seven kids and neighborhood friends in their south Minneapolis home, she said.
Nordahl was a talented painter and as "loyal and honest as the day is long," said his lifelong friend and former officer John (Black Jack) Carlson, who knew the slain officers Nordahl painted. "You couldn't get [a] closer [likeness] if the guy was standing right up there."
Mike Nordahl said his father "was down to earth. He was strong and tough at times, but kind-hearted." He said one of his dad's partners told him that when confronted by a group, the 6-foot 2-inch Nordahl always took out the toughest guy first. He patrolled north Minneapolis during race riots in the 1960s, which took a toll on him, his son said.
Nordahl was commended six times for police work, his family said. Newspaper clippings gave several examples: In 1957 he and a partner were cited for courage after catching a burglary suspect who shot at them. In 1960, Nordahl and another partner were commended for arresting five burglary suspects after a car chase through south Minneapolis.
Mike Nordahl said his dad described the 1957 arrest: Nordahl and his partner surprised a burglar behind a drugstore near 55th and Penn Avenue S. and got out of their car. The burglar fired and missed.
"Dad faked that he was hit and fell forward. The man ran down an alley. Dad, who considered himself the worst shot in the department, shot several times and hit him in the thigh and broke his leg," Nordahl said. "They caught him about half a block away crawling."
It wasn't until after he retired that Nordahl was shot, in January 1980. He was working a security job for a friend at the Military Order of the Purple Hearts' weekly bingo game at a Lake Street veterans club. About midnight, he and a bingo operator took the $1,444 in proceeds to a night depository on Lake Street, the Minneapolis Tribune reported. A man stepped out of the shadows.
"His gun was blazing," Nordahl told the Tribune. "I reached into the pocket of my parka to get my gun, but before I knew it, I was on the ground." Both victims were shot in the left arm. The robber escaped with the loot.
Besides his wife and son Mike, Nordahl is survived by children Steven Eriksrud, of Minneapolis; Jeff, of Inver Grove Heights; Mary Chalker, of New Hope; and Mike and Scott, both of Edina; 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Services have been held.
