Norma J. (Gilson) Rosell - 1918-2011

GILSON, AMUNDSON, ROSELL, JONES, PIERCE, RODRIQUEZ, MCCONKLE, BLACKLEDGE, SMITH, BARNUM, ALDRIDGE, DRAHN, STEINER, REEDER

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 5/7/2011 at 15:27:18

SOURCE: Decorah, Iowa Fjelstul Funeral Home May 3, 2011
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Norma Jean (Gilson) Rosell, age 93, of Decorah, Iowa, died early Monday morning, May 2, 2011 at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, Iowa. She had been a resident at Aase Haugen for the past eleven years enduring the disease of Alzheimer's. She and her devoted husband, Vance were able to be together at Aase Haugen from 2000 until his passing on November 11, 2007. Memorial services were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Congregational United Church of Christ Church in Decorah, Iowa with Rev. Matthew H. Perkins officiating. Innurnment was in the Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Iowa.

Norma Jean was born February 21, 1918 in Waukon, Iowa, the daughter of Orrie and Mary (Amundson) Gilson. She was raised on the family farm and was educated in the Waukon Schools. On July 4, 1940 she was united in marriage to O. Vance Rosell at the Congregational Church parsonage. They shared 67 years together and were the parents of 3 daughters and one son.

She was active in Women's Fellowship and Petra Circle at the Congregational United Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years. She volunteered countless hours to Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts when her children were young. Norma was an avid reader and walked weekly to the Public Library. She learned how to drive a car after the age of 40. She enjoyed bird feeding, her flower garden (especially gladiolas) baking, and nurturing her children and grandchildren.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vance; 3 sisters, Myrtle Drahn, Delores Steiner, Carol Reeder and 3 brothers, Lawrence Gilson, John Gilson, and Dale Gilson.

She is survived by her children: Judith Ann (Randy) Jones of Rochester, Minnesota, Sondra Jean (Darrell) Pierce of Decorah, Iowa, Mary Lucretia (Jose') Rodriquez of Caracas, Venezuela, and Robert Vance (Dr. Allyn McConkle-Rosell) Rosell of Chapel Hill, South Carolina; 7 grandchildren: Dr. Aaron Blackledge of San Francisco, California, Scott (Lon) Pierce of Decorah, Iowa, Cara (Todd) Smith of Thomson, Illinois, Bartt (Nicole) Pierce of Roseville, Minnesota, Natasha (Christopher) Barnum of Sacramento, California, Howard Rosell of Charleston, South Carolina and Bruce Rosell of Elon, North Carolina; 8 great-grandchildren: Breanne and Bryce Pierce, Soleil and Hogan Smith, Dijah and Hayden Pierce, and Theodore and Eli Barnum; one sister, Dorothy (Norman) Aldridge of Decorah, Iowa; 3 sisters-in-law: Irene (Gilson) of Caledonia, Minnesota, Evelyn Gilson of Waukon, Iowa, and Betty Rosell of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

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