Norman R. Van Arsdale

          Norman R. (“Skip”) Van Arsdale passed away peacefully October 25, 2025, at the Mira Vie Senior Living facility in Bridgewater, New Jersey.  Skip was 89 years old.

          Skip was born on January 12, 1936, in Somerville, New Jersey to the late Herman and Margaret Van Arsdale.  He grew up in Peapack and graduated from Bernards High School in 1954.  Following high school, Skip graduated from the American Academy of Funeral Service in New York.  He obtained his mortuary license in December 1958.

          Skip worked for the Speer Funeral Home in Somerville for eight years before purchasing the business and renaming it the Speer-Van Arsdale Funeral Home.  He ran the funeral home until his retirement in 2001.

          Skip was active in state and local funeral directors’ associations for his entire career.  He served on the State Board of Mortuary Science from 1971 to 1975.  He was also active in the community and was a member of the local Rotary Club and a lifelong volunteer fireman in the West End Hose Company in Somerville.  He also enjoyed many years as a member of the Raritan Valley Country Club.

          Skip married his wife Maxine in December 1974.  Skip and Maxine enjoyed their retirement in Vero Beach, Florida, before returning to New Jersey.  Skip was especially proud of his work as an Ambassador for the Los Angeles Dodgers during their spring training games.

          Skip is predeceased by Maxine by one month.  They were married for 50 years.  He is survived by his daughters, Susan Van Arsdale Collins, (husband Patrick), and Nancy Van Arsdale Nagle, (husband Loren), and his grandchildren, Shannon Collins Betz, (husband John), Jessica Nagle Gruver, (husband Charles), and Ryan Nagle.

          Skip loved his family, his friends, golf, and the Philadelphia Eagles.  If you knew Skip, pour yourself a tuner sometime next weekend and send him a toast for a life well lived.

Private funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 E. Main Street, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807.  

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