Beals, Norman Eugene 1937-2020

BEALS, ISKE, STEENHOEK, GULLION

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:36

Norman E. Beals
November 5, 1937 - December 20, 2020

Norman Eugene Beals, age 83 of Colfax, passed on December 20, 2020. Norman was born in Ira, Iowa on November 5, 1937 to the parents of Donald and Ella Beals. As a small child, his family moved to Colfax living across the street from his grandparents "The Wards." He attended kindergarten through 12 grades at the Colfax School, graduating in 1957. He loved to play sports. He was involved in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He also had the lead role in his Junior class play, and sang in the school chorus. Norman worked from the age of 14, down at Weirick's Drug Store

He married Lynda Iske on November 28, 1958 at the Methodist Church in Newton, Iowa. Norman, at that time, was working for Hartgrove's Construction Co., with his father, where both were instrumental in building Interstate 80 on the sections across Jasper and Polk Counties.

Norman and Lynda lived in Colfax, where their children were born. They moved to Colorado for 1.5 years, returning back to Colfax where they lived on the family farm where Lynda was raised.
Upon returning back from Colorado, Norman purchased the old Skelly station on the corner of Hwy 6/117, and later also purchased Economy Oil, working both of them for over 20 years. He then worked for Van Dusselldorp Sand & Gravel Co, Firestone, and A-1 Seeding.

At 65, Norman retired to fulfill his dream of opening his own ice cream store. And in April of 2002, Grump's Corner was opened. He was happy he could now have ice cream any time! Norm and Lynda always had the joke between them that "Norm knew where every ice cream store was in Des Moines and Lynda knew where every Mexican restaurant was located!"

In 2003, Norman and Lynda bought 6 acres in Colfax where they put in a pond and built their new home.
Norman and Lynda loved going dancing on Saturday nights in the cold months and boating in the warmer months at Rathbun Lake. In later years, they purchased a motorhome and felt blessed they were able to see much of the United States. Every year he looked forward to planning another winter trip.

Norman is survived by his wife Lynda of 62 years, daughter Justi (John) Steenhoek of Prairie City, Son Monty (Vana) Beals of Colfax, 5 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

Proceeding him in death are his parents Donald and Ella Beals, his Grandparents and a sister Kathryn (Beals) Gullion. Private burial will be held at McKeever Cemetery at a later date. Memorials and cards may be sent to Coburn Funeral Homes, Colfax, Iowa. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com ~ The Coburn Funeral Home, Colfax, Iowa 20 Dec 2020.