Nov. 20, 1928 – Might 14, 2025
The dynamic matriarch of our household, Norma Hammerberg, handed away on Wednesday night time, Might 14, 2025. From the second she ran throughout the desktops in her first grade classroom, Norma lived life totally and vibrantly. For those who had been fortunate sufficient to have met Norma, you’ll have been drawn into her sphere by her magnetic persona and compassionate coronary heart. She was a superb bridge participant and an astute observer of politics. To her household, she was a loving, beneficiant, and forgiving mom, grandmother, and nice grandmother.
Norma was born, Nov. 20, 1928, 96 years in the past, in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin to Flora and Leon Nelson. Flora turned a single mom to five-year-old Norma and four-year-old Gene when Leon died tragically in a fireplace. Norma’s compassionate world view was formed by her mom’s dedication and willpower to offer for her youngsters in a person’s world. The household needed to transfer steadily as Flora struggled to search out inexpensive housing. Flora was a schoolteacher (mockingly, additionally Norma’s first grade trainer). Within the summers, Flora supplemented her meager trainer wage by working as a waitress, housekeeper, and retailer clerk. The kids had been break up up and despatched to reside with kinfolk and pals in different cities. Norma was lucky to spend a number of of these summers on her Swedish immigrant grandfather’s dairy farm. That is the place Norma’s love of all issues Sweden blossomed. Norma noticed how exhausting her mom labored to make ends meet and at all times had deep respect for single mothers and anybody who needed to scrape to get by. She and Gene had been raised to be open minded world thinkers. Training was the lifeblood of the house.
In 1945, Norma enrolled at Stout State College. Norma and her first roommate, Ruth Scholz turned quick pals. That friendship has lasted 80 years. Norma and Ruth endured curfews, permanents, and a 3rd roommate with a skunk fur coat. Later in life, together with their husbands, they traveled collectively. And later nonetheless, they aged and braved the losses of their husbands. Norma’s most vital encounter occurred as a sophomore when she met Wally, her companion in life. Wally had returned from service and Norma was a younger coed. Wally mentioned Norma would slip out of any room at any time when he entered. When Norma lastly accepted an introduction to Wally, she talked about that she appreciated the sound of rain. The subsequent day, Wally met her at her dorm, and so they walked collectively within the rain. Norma quickly understood that Wally was a steadfast, honorable man and so they had been destined to develop previous collectively.
Norma and Wally married and moved to Highland Park, Illinois in 1950. Each had careers in schooling and all three of their youngsters had been born there. They had been public educators by means of and thru. Norma taught 1000’s of excessive schoolers residence economics. Her folks expertise and managerial fashion led her to grow to be a faculty administrator. Norma was diplomatic, perceptive, and considerate. She flourished in that position.
Norma and Wally had been drawn again to their Wisconsin roots and so they retired to Ellison Bay in 1983. Norma continued educating. However this time as an alternative of educating household residing to youngsters, she taught bridge to adults. Norma taught over a thousand folks from Sturgeon Bay to Ellison Bay. She liked the sport, and it confirmed. It was a manner for her to place her computer-like mind to work. Norma had an unlimited psychological rolodex of kinfolk, pals, and acquaintances. It appeared she remembered issues about those that they themselves had forgotten. Throughout retirement Norma labored on household family tree and has left a written treasure trove of knowledge for the household. Norma additionally volunteered on the Ridges, the Clearing, and the Liberty Grove Historic Society. Norma and Wally additionally loved touring with a decent group of pals, the Candy Sixteen.
Above all, Norma was dedicated to household. She and Wally had a robust, private relationship with every of their 9 grandchildren and their companions. They knew every individual as a person. Norma’s purpose was to get to know every of their 13 nice grandchildren in the identical manner. We’re assured that every of the good grandchildren will know the way a lot their nice grandparents liked them.
Norma was an optimistic individual of many superlatives. Every bowl of ice cream, each burger was the very best she ever had. That meant issues received higher daily and the final was at all times the very best.
A non-public memorial is being deliberate for Norma. Condolences can get expressed by way of mail at 22550 W Grass Lake Rd, Antioch, IL 60002 or electronic mail at [email protected].
The household is grateful for the loving, expert care that Norma obtained from the CNAs, aides, and nurses from Scandia Village and Unity Hospice.
Memorial contributions in Norma’s reminiscence might be made to Northern Door Kids’s Heart or Door County Neighborhood Basis: givedoorcounty.org.
Casperson Funeral Dwelling & Cremation Providers in Sister Bay is helping the Hammerberg household. Expressions of sympathy, recollections, and images of Norma could also be shared along with her household by means of her tribute web page at CaspersonFuneralHome.com
