Smith, Norman Bernard 1931-2007

SMITH, MAHONEY, GUNHUS, ADRIAN, BLEADORN, FRANA, HOVDEN, DEHNING

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/2/2012 at 17:03:13

Norman B. Smith, age 75, of Decorah, Iowa, died Friday, September 21, 2007 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 A.M. Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, Iowa by Rev. Ginny Olson. Burial is in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco, Iowa with full military honors.

Visitation is on Monday September 24, 2007 from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and an hour prior to the services on Tuesday at the Church.

Norman Bernard Smith was born December 24, 1931 in Waukon, Iowa the son of Loren and Florence (Mahoney) Smith. He was baptized on December 27, 1931 at St. Patrick’s Church in Waukon Iowa and later confirmed his faith at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. Norm attended Ludow #2, Baker and Clay Hill schools in Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties. He attended six weeks of High School and had to quit to help run the family farm and support his family.

On December 30, 1953, he was united in marriage to Louise Ann (Luann) Gunhus in the rectory of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa. This marriage was blessed with two daughters: Debra and Rhonda.

Norm served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953-1955. He was a tank mechanic and was stationed primarily at Ft. Hood, Texas. During his tour of duty he earned his High School equivalency diploma.

Norm was passionate about life and about his family. He had a deep and enduring love for his wife of more than 53 years, Luann, and also for his loving children and grandchildren. His strong faith in God was a source of great strength in his life and the lives of those around him.

His hobbies included spending time with his family, especially attending his grandchildren’s activities and working. He had a passion for hard work and quality service. Norm considered his 35 year career at Usgaard & Smith more fun than work and he enjoyed working 80 hours a week. His mostly self taught technical skills were sought by many and he was driven to help others and share of himself in his own business as well as on advisory boards throughout the industry.

Norm was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, where he was an Adult Bible Study teacher, an usher, served on the stewardship committee and the church council as President of his congregation. Prior to that, he was a member of First Lutheran Church in Decorah where he was a Sunday School Teacher, superintendent, a Stephen Minister and a Bethel Bible Teacher. He was a deacon and served on the church council including the position of Vice President of the congregation.

Norm was very involved in the Decorah Chamber of Commerce and had a passion for the West Side Business District. He was instrumental in community betterment issues, including the placing of hanging flower baskets around town. He took pride in their beauty and spent countless volunteer hours on their care from May to September, watering and also providing maintenance on the golf carts used for the watering.

Norm became a resident of the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home on August 15, 2007. He died surrounded by his family at the Nursing Home on Friday, September 21, 2007 at the age of 75 years.

Survivors include his loving wife, Luann Smith of Decorah, his daughters and their husbands, Debra and Ed Adrian of West Union, Iowa and Rhonda and Tim Bleadorn of Waverly, Iowa and their children Michael, Matthew and Molly Adrian and Nathan and Alex Bleadorn; three sisters, Darlene (Dennis) Frana of Decorah, Kate Hovden of Decorah, Karen (Harlon) Dehning of Marengo, Iowa and two brothers, Earl (Eileen) Smith of Hudson, Iowa and Donald (Joyce) Smith of Keosauqua, Iowa; and several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Florence Smith, two sisters, Rita Smith and Mary Frana, an infant brother, James Smith and two brothers-in-law, Vernon Frana and Carmen Hovden.

Memorials may be directed to Peace Lutheran Church, PO Box 2, Ridgeway, IA 52165; Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home, 911 Ridgewood Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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