Evelyn Viola Norman, age 90, of La Porte, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at Golden Living Center Fountainview Terrace in La Porte.
She was born May 30, 1925 at her family home in Hanna, IN, to Ellis Elnor and Marguerite Charlotte (West) Dowell.
She grew up in Hanna, IN and graduated from Hanna High School in 1943, where she made lifelong friends. During her childhood, she participated in school plays, played clarinet, took performance classes and dance lessons where she participated in recitals, and was a cheerleader.
She was married to Clyde Wilson, Fred Swan, and Don Norman who all preceded her in death. Fred Swan was the love of her life; they enjoyed entertaining friends and family at their summer cottage in Saugatuck, MI.
Most of the work she did outside of the home was secretarial. During WWII, she became "Rosie the riveter" working at the KOP Plant in La Porte making airplane parts and doing her part to help the American war effort.
She joined the VFW Auxiliary #1130 in 1952 and later became a lifetime member. Her passions were her great-grandchildren, chocolate, and auctions. She changed kitchen tables so often her daughters had a hard time keeping track of them.
She is survived by her two daughters, Judy (the late Jack) Jensen of Fish Lake, IN and Nancy (Fred) Zeedyk of Ft. Myers Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Scott (Jina) Jesse of Brownsburg, IN, and Jeff Jensen of La Porte, IN; four great-grandchildren, Ethan, Devan, Owen, and Kiersten Jesse of Brownsburg, IN; one sister-in-law, Helen Dowell of Warsaw, IN; as well as one niece and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brother, Eugene Dowell; and sister, Peggy Lewis.
Cremation has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, La Porte. A private graveside service will be held at Pine Lake Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Evelyn Norman, please visit our flower store.
She was born May 30, 1925 at her family home in Hanna, IN, to Ellis Elnor and Marguerite Charlotte (West) Dowell.
She grew up in Hanna, IN and graduated from Hanna High School in 1943, where she made lifelong friends. During her childhood, she participated in school plays, played clarinet, took performance classes and dance lessons where she participated in recitals, and was a cheerleader.
She was married to Clyde Wilson, Fred Swan, and Don Norman who all preceded her in death. Fred Swan was the love of her life; they enjoyed entertaining friends and family at their summer cottage in Saugatuck, MI.
Most of the work she did outside of the home was secretarial. During WWII, she became "Rosie the riveter" working at the KOP Plant in La Porte making airplane parts and doing her part to help the American war effort.
She joined the VFW Auxiliary #1130 in 1952 and later became a lifetime member. Her passions were her great-grandchildren, chocolate, and auctions. She changed kitchen tables so often her daughters had a hard time keeping track of them.
She is survived by her two daughters, Judy (the late Jack) Jensen of Fish Lake, IN and Nancy (Fred) Zeedyk of Ft. Myers Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Scott (Jina) Jesse of Brownsburg, IN, and Jeff Jensen of La Porte, IN; four great-grandchildren, Ethan, Devan, Owen, and Kiersten Jesse of Brownsburg, IN; one sister-in-law, Helen Dowell of Warsaw, IN; as well as one niece and one nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brother, Eugene Dowell; and sister, Peggy Lewis.
Cremation has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, La Porte. A private graveside service will be held at Pine Lake Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com