Norma Bloxham
Norma R. Bloxham, 91, of Waukon died Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society - Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 10 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Norma Ruth Bloxham was born March 2, 1930 at home in rural Franklin Township, Allamakee County, the daughter of Oscar R. and Selma (Wilke) Johnson. Norma was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. She attended country school through the eighth grade and later received her GED April 23, 1975.
February 22, 1947, Norma married James Edward Bloxham at the First Presbyterian Church parsonage; they made their home in Waukon. Norma worked a variety of jobs, including waitressing at the Red Owl Restaurant, as a painter and wallpaper hanger, building speakers for the Gurian Company, and as a variety store clerk before working 30-plus years for the Allamakee Community School District, starting out as a cook and becoming the food service director. At one time, Norma was the secretary of the Iowa State Food Service. She retired in 1996 with visions of traveling with Jim; unfortunately, he passed away that same year.
Norma did travel to Branson, MO with her daughters. She was a very determined lady, never afraid to go somewhere, and she always wanted to be the driver.
Quite the seamstress, Norma loved to hand sew gingham checked aprons, which became gifts to family members and many friends. She also loved doing the counted cross stitch kits, which became blankets for her kids and grandkids; she enjoyed crocheting and embroidery as well. She liked growing flowers, canning fruits and vegetables, having coffee with the neighbor ladies, and keeping up with her grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ activities.
A swell cook, Norma also did catering for weddings, graduations, birthdays and other events. She was renowned for her potato salad and sour cream raisin pies and her grandchildren always knew where to find the cookies when they visited. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards as well. Earlier in life, Norma was a member of Forest Mills Methodist Church in rural Postville and was a current member at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, where she became an honorary life member of the Women’s Presbyterian Group. She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary and was a member of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly).
Survivors include her four children: Pat (Gary) Mitchell of Cedar Rapids, and Shirley (Bob) Schulze, Randy (Julie) Bloxham and Sheryl Bieber, all of Waukon; 14 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 10 step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one step-great-great-grandchild; one brother-in-law, Gary Gress of Waukon; and her sisters-in-law: Darlene Johnson of Elgin, Beverly Johnson and Delores Johnson, both of Waukon, and Jeannette Johnson of Postville.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Lester Neverman; her husband, Jim, in 1996; her son-in-law, Dan Bieber; and her siblings: Marnetta (Roland) Snitker, Roger (Norma) Johnson, Marland (JoAnn) Johnson, Delores (Stanley) Berg, Dean Johnson, Dale Johnson, LaVern Johnson, Dorothy Gress, Keith Johnson, Duwayne (Linda) Johnson, and infant sister Helen Jean Johnson.
Norma’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren served as honorary casketbearers. Casketbearers were her grandsons. Joe Bloxham, Jim Schulze, Kyle Kerndt and Adam Bieber, and her nephews, Jim, Darwin, Wayne, Virgil, Kevin and Darrel Johnson, and Tim Gress.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
