Gaass, Norma Lucille Goodell – 1921-2012

GAASS, GOODELL, PATTON, ROBUS, WINGER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/20/2024 at 14:14:54

Norma Lucille was born in rural Wayne County, IA on November 14, 1921, the second daughter of Bertha Ione Winger Goodell and Clarence William Goodell. She graduated from Cambria High School at Cambria, IA in 1938. After graduation, the family moved to Pella, IA to allow their daughters, Geraldine and Norma, to attend Central College. While at Central, Norma met Peter George Gaass, a Pella native, whose ancestors founded Pella. After graduation, Norma taught at Colfax High School in Colfax, IA and Pete entered the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. They were married on March 19, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah. After the end of the war, they returned to Pella where Pete practiced law with his father, George Gerard Gaass, in the Gaass & Gaass Law Firm which later became Gaass, Klyn & Boehlje. Pete continued to practice law at the age of 84 years until shortly before his death on May 6, 2002.
Norma & Pete established a happy and active home, welcoming four children: Pamela Kay, Janis Norine, Karen Ilene and David Peter. Norma was active in Second Reformed Church, P. E. O. Chapter BU, TTT Chapter AE and served on the Pella Community Center Board. She volunteered as a greeter in the Windmill in Central Park, helped decorate the Historical Village at Christmas and was involved in numerous other community activities. She and Pete spent many winters in Florida, but her heart always remained in Pella.
Norma was also a tremendously active and dedicated supporter of Central College and the Pella Tulip Time Festival. Her contributions of time and effort to the Scholte House were significant. Because of these many contributions and her years of work, Norma was honored by the City of Pella as its 2010 annual Tulip Time Service Award winner.
Early Monday morning, January 23, 2012, Norma passed away peacefully in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center having just recently observed her 90th birthday. She leaves to mourn her passing her children: Janis (James) Patton of Phoenix, Arizona; Karen Gaass of Denver, Colorado, and David (Dawn) Gaass of Denver; her son-in-law, Kenneth Robus of Eddyville, Iowa; her adored 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services, Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 2 p.m., Second Reformed Church. Visitation with the family present will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. in The Gathering Place at Second Reformed Church. Memorials may be designated for the Scholte House Museum, the Second Reformed Church, or for the Peter G. & Norma L. Gaass Endowed Scholarship Fund at Central College.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Friday, January 27, 2012, page 4B