Einck, Norma (Koch) 1926 - 2023
EINCK, KOCH, MONSON, THUENTE, BOHR-WILTGEN, TRYTTEN, LUDWIG, KLEVE, KOLLENBERGER, STYVE, DOERR, ARMSTRONG, GILBERT, MITCHELL, HOLZER
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/6/2023 at 12:02:43
Norma Einck, age 96, of Decorah, IA, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at Wellington Place in Decorah.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Daniel Knipper presiding. Burial will be in the St. Benedict Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the Church on Monday morning.
Norma Einck was born to Walter and Mabel (Monson) Koch on March 27, 1926. She was the second of nine children, raised on a farm near Ossian, Iowa. After completing eight years in a one room schoolhouse, Norma boarded in a home in Ossian during the week so she could attend high school. She had fond memories of playing basketball in high school. She also liked to reminisce about her after school and weekend job at Figge’s Auto in Ossian where she did everything from small repairs to vulcanizing tires to make her spending money. While in high school, her friends fondly began calling her “Cookie”, a name they continued to use throughout Norma’s life. During this time, she also met the love of her life and future husband, Jerome.
After high school, Norma moved to Cedar Rapids to work at Colins Radio while she waited for Jerome to return from serving in World War II. She wrote to him daily during the nearly three years that they were apart. Within weeks of his return from the war, Norma and Jerome were married on February 28, 1946. The couple moved back to Ossian, and shortly thereafter began farming, eventually purchasing a farm west of Decorah. Norma was a dedicated farm wife and loving mother to four daughters. She continued to work hard and make memories with her family on their farm until 1998 when she and Jerome retired to a home they purchased in Decorah. The couple continued to live together in their home for many more years. As their family grew, they enjoyed hosting family gatherings, especially on Christmas Eve, where one could expect a pot of Norma’s famous goulash among other tasty treats.
When Norma was not tending to her family, she loved doing crafts, and was well known by her family for making corn husk dolls and embroidered dishtowels. Family members looked forward to her beautifully decorated cakes for all occasions. Norma had the ability to make friends with anyone she met, and she made many lifetime friends while a longtime member of the “Madison Willing Workers” neighborhood ladies club. She was a very ambitious lady, even in her later years, and was often referred to by her daughters as the “energizer bunny”.
Norma moved to Wellington Place Assisted Living after Jerome’s passing on their wedding anniversary in February 2020. She reunited with old friends and made many new friends while a resident there. She especially loved playing cards.
Norma is survived by her four daughters, Sandra (Vern) Thuente, Decorah, IA; Annette (Karl) Bohr-Wiltgen, Ossian, IA; Dianne (Dick) Trytten, Decorah, IA; and Linda (Bill) Ludwig, Spillville, IA. Her grandchildren: Wade Thuente, Tim (Kris) Thuente, Kendra (Shawn) Kleve, Rob Bohr, Ryan (Sadie) Trytten and Emily (Todd) Kellenberger, as well as 16 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Judy Styve and sister-in-law, Delores Koch as well as many nieces and nephews.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Jerome J. Einck. Her parents, Walter and Mabel (Monson) Koch and her father-in-law and mother-in-law Bernard (Ben) and Julia (Doerr) Einck. She was also preceded in death by her grandsons: Adam J. Bohr and Rik Trytten and son-in-law Kenneth Bohr. Sisters: Alice (Berchman) Armstrong, Betty (Gayle) Gilbert, Ruth (Kip) Mitchell, Patricia Koch, and Doris (Dean) Holzer. Brothers: Curtis (Millie) Koch and Bob Koch and brother-in-law Darrell Styve.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen