Grasz, Norman 1929-2004

GRASZ, WILKENS, SWISHER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/23/2008 at 15:14:18

LE MARS, Iowa -- Norman Grasz, 74, of Le Mars died suddenly Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig, Iowa, with the Rev. Pete Petersen officiating. Burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in Hillside Cemetery at Merrill, Iowa, with military rites conducted by American Legion, Heeren-McHale-Wilken Post 724 of Brunsville, Iowa. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Norman Gene Grasz was born Nov. 13, 1929, in Le Mars to Alfred and Mata (Wilkens) Grasz. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Norman was raised on the family farm near Craig. He attended country school west of Le Mars.

Norman was united in marriage to Versella "Sally" Swisher on Nov. 13, 1951, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Norman served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Army from November of 1951 to November of 1953. He served in Korea for 18 months as a truck driver. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned back to the Le Mars area and worked for Gus Pech in Le Mars for five years. While working for the foundry, Norman was designing and building his own well-digging machine. He then began farming near Craig and operated a well-digging service for 10 years. After selling the well-digging service, Norman continued to farm in the Craig and Ireton area until his retirement in 1993.

He was a long-time member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig and the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post 724 of Brunsville. Norman enjoyed attending sales and auctions in his retirement years and enjoyed playing pitch, camping and traveling when his health was better.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Versella "Sally" Grasz, of Le Mars; a daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Don Feauto, of Akron, Iowa; two grandchildren, Ryan Feauto of Estherville, Iowa and Lee Harding and his wife, Nicole, of Akron; a great-granddaughter, Ava Harding, of Akron; four brothers, Lester and Ruth Grasz, of Le Mars, Orvall Grasz of Craig, Larry and Dorothy Grasz and Vernon and Pat Grasz, all of Le Mars; and several nieces and nephews. Norman was loved dearly by his family and will always be his daughter's hero.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Bobby Joe, in infancy.

Pallbearers will be Randy Grasz, Kalvin Grasz, Terry Singer, Rocky Swisher, Susan Carlson and Nancy Bailey. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Varenhorst, Dallas Huebner, Wayne Vander Feen, Robert Van Wyhe, Wendell Borchers, Richard Laughlin and Jim Mullins.

~Source:The Sioux City Journal
~Part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection