Woldum, Norman Julian 1915-2009
WOLDUM, TESLOW, HEBEL, MOEN, GIPP, MATHERS, RONAN, STONE, SCURLOCK, GRANT, BARSNESS, MATHAHS
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/20/2012 at 12:34:50
Norman J. Woldum, age 94, died on Saturday, April 11, 2009 after complications from pneumonia at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville, SC.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 18, 2009, at St. Benedict Catholic Church by Rev. Phillip Gibbs. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors. Visitation is from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Friday, April 17, at Fjelstul Funeral Home, with a Vigil Service at 5:00 P.M. Friday, and on Saturday after 8 A.M. at Fjelstul Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to McCall Hospice House, 1836 West Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681 or St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101.
Norman Julian Woldum was born April 3, 1915, in Decorah, Iowa the son of John and Cecelia (Teslow) Woldum. After graduating from Decorah High School he was employed by the Decorah Produce Company. He served in the United States Navy from 1940 to 1946 in the Pacific as a Chief Pharmacist Mate on the USS Iowa and USS New York. After serving in the Navy he was employed by the Independence Produce Company in Lanesboro, MN and Central City, Iowa. He later returned to his birthplace of Decorah to work with his longtime friend Carl Nichols at the Wapsie Produce Company.
He married Gladys Marie Hebel on April 29, 1942 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. They were blessed with a union of forty eight years and four children: Karen, Karyl, Dennis and Richard.
Norman was a proud member of the American Legion and the V.F.W. He always took pleasure in helping others and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He played countless rounds of golf at Oneota Golf and Country Club and in later years enjoyed being a starter on men’s day. He especially liked having coffee with the grounds crew at that club. Many knew him from his habit of long walks in the area. He was always an excellent card player and played weekly with friends.
At age 88 he moved to an independent living apartment at the Eastern Star Home. There he formed many friendships with those in the assisted living apartments whom he kept in touch with until the time of his death.
In August, 2007 he moved to Greenville, SC to Homewood Assisted Living in order to be near his daughters. There he became a leader of bingo games, continued to play rummy with anyone who would join in and enjoyed car rides in the surrounding country side and towns.
Norman was the third of six children. The Woldum family consisted of Ruby Moen (Ab), Telford Woldum (Dorothy), Jeanette Gipp (Alvin), Hubert Woldum (Fran), and Ray Woldum (Ruth). Many of his nephews and nieces continue to live in the Decorah area and were a wonderful support while he lived in the city.
He was preceded in death by his wife Gladys on August 31, 1990, his parents and his five siblings. He is survived by his four children: Karen (Michael) Mathers and Karyl Woldum of Greenville, SC, Dennis (Kathy Ronan) Woldum of St. Louis, MO, and Richard (Christina) Woldum of Camarillo, CA; six grandchildren: Jonathan (Kathleen) Mathers, Ellen Mathers (Michael) Stone, David Mathers, Kari Woldum, John Woldum and Christopher Woldum; and one eight-month-old great-granddaughter, Hadley Shannon Mathers, all of whom brought many a smile to his face. He was also survived by six much-loved sisters-in-law: Ruth Woldum of Decorah; Dorothy Woldum of Waconia, MN; Helen Scurlock of Douglas City, CA; Geraldine Grant of Creston, IA; Elaine Barsness of, Iowa Falls; and Delores Mathahs of Manly, IA.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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