Morehead, Norman W. 1928-2005

MOREHEAD, MILLER, SAMPSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/25/2008 at 21:08:21

MERRILL, Iowa -- Norman W. Morehead, 76, of Merrill passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at a Sioux City hospital following a lengthy illness.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill, with the Revs. Klaus Raab and Dennis Johnson officiating. Family graveside services will be in Hillside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

Norman Wayne Morehead was born Nov. 24, 1928, on the family farm near Akron, Iowa, the son of Clair and Christina (Miller) Morehead. He started his education in Ruble, Iowa. Two years later, his family moved to Akron, where he graduated from high school in 1947. During his school years, he was very active in athletics, including baseball, basketball and football. He would later use the skills he learned to coach Little League and high school baseball. He began his lifelong career in the grocery business during his high school years, working at the local grocery store in Akron.

He and Marilyn Sampson were united in marriage on June 11, 1950, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron. They moved to Sioux City and he took a position with Lee Kuhn's Superette. He worked there for 12 years before transferring to Peoples Grocery. Five years later, he and his family moved to Merrill, where they owned and operated Norm's Superette for 21 years. He then took a position with Hy-Vee Grocery in Le Mars, Iowa. After a few years, he retired but continued to work on a part-time basis. Health issues would force him to quit working in March 2004.

He was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, where he ushered, served on the council and as president. He loved life, people and enjoyed practical jokes. His love of sports would lead him to be instrumental in the development of the Merrill Baseball Field and Little League. He also was an assistant coach for the Le Mars Bulldogs baseball team. An avid Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals fan, he and his friend, Stub Jessen, watched many games together and took a trip to watch a World Series. Most important to him was his family, especially his grandsons and great-granddaughter.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Marilyn of Merrill; a daughter and her husband, Sharon and Dennis Dorr of Le Mars, and their two sons, Michael and his wife, Gina and their daughter, Teylor Ann of Orange City, Iowa, and Matthew of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Mark and Donna and their children, Mitchell, Benjamin and Karson, all of Merrill; his mother, Christina (Morehead) Ryan of Akron; a brother and his wife, Virgil and Shirley of Sioux City; a sister, Janice Morehead of Akron; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father; a grandson, Alex Morehead; his stepfather, Ty Ryan; and an infant sister, Sharon Kay Morehead.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal