Norma Svendson

Norma E. Svendson, 97, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, December 26, 2019, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 30th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Monday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church or to Veterans Memorial Hospital, both in Waukon.

Norma Elaine (Wurtzel) Svendson was born in Center Township, rural Waterville, IA, on June 28, 1922, to Herman and Inga (Pladsen) Wurtzel. She was baptized at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, on July 23, 1922. She attended Dalby (Center #7) rural school until the family moved to Waukon in March of 1934, where she attended Waukon public schools from 6th grade until graduating from Waukon High School in 1940.

With jobs hard to get, Norma did house work, cared for the elderly or sick, and worked at the Allamakee County Home (Makee Manor) until her first stenographic job with attorney Martin Nolting in 1941. In May 1942, she took a job as secretary at the Equity Co-operative Association Store in Waukon until August 1945, when she began work as a clerk and later as deputy to Allamakee County Recorder Lillian Meierkord.

On November 10, 1946, she married Morris Arthur Svendson at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. Two sons were born to them: Raymond James and David Arthur. On June 1, 1948, Norma quit her job to raise her family with her husband. In March of 1956, Norma again resumed employment out of the home as the deputy clerk of court to Lloyd R. Kolsrud, Clerk of District Court of Allamakee County; she served 19 years in that office with Kolsrud and 10 years with the next clerk of district court Carl R. Christianson. Norma retired in March of 1986.

Norma was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, and was confirmed there on June 27, 1937. She taught Sunday school for about 38 years, was the Sunday school superintendent for two years, she and Morris served as Luther League sponsors, and was a member of the Board of Deacons, Board of Education, Altar Guild, and was a member and an officer of the Women's Organization and its circle. She also was a member and officer of the VFW Auxiliary 4117 and a volunteer at Good Samaritan Center and for other various area organizations.

She is survived by her sons: Ray (Linda) of Pleasant Hill, IA, and David of Olmsted Falls, OH; a grandson Chad (Candace) of Waukee, IA, and his children: Jace, Bain, and Mali, a granddaughter Kara (Brandon) Lindsey of Pleasant Hill, IA, and their son Sven; and many nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Morris who died in 1995; two sisters: Inez (Oliver) Osland and Ramona (Clarence) Peterson; and her brother Truman (Donna) Wurtzel.

Honorary casketbearers are Sven Lindsey, and Bain, Jace, and Mali Svendson. Casketbearers are Norman, Roger, and Rodney Peterson, Ernest Osland, Steve Wurtzel, Bruce Barr, Chad Svendson, and Brandon Lindsey.