Norma Francis

Norma Francis passed peacefully July 4, 2015 at Greater Regional Hospice House in Creston. She was 94.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, July 10 at 11 a.m. at Platte Center Presbyterian Church, south of Creston. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Platte Center Women’s Association, Gibson Memorial Library or a charity of donor’s choice.

In the fall of 1920 Myrtle (Wick) Lonnecker and George Lonnecker headed west to seek their fortune. They settled in Silverton, OR, where Norma Lorraine was born Feb. 4, 1921.
Dismayed by bleak weather, slim job prospects, and worms in the cherries, the family returned to the Afton/Arispe, IA, area. What Norma lacked in siblings, she made up for in close friends at the Arispe Consolidated School where she graduated in 1938.

At the start of World War II, many RNs were recruited for military service. Nursing duties fell to young, inexperienced nurse aides like Norma. Her trial by fire at the hospital in Creston prompted her oft-shared advice: “Sometimes you just have to act like you know what you’re doing, and you might surprise yourself.” She frequently recalled a particular doctor encouraging her during a challenging procedure: “You can do it, Norm!”

On March 15, 1947, Norma and Donald Francis were married in Minneapolis, MN. They settled on the family farm south of Creston. A “city girl,” she likely had many more “You can do it, Norm!” moments while adapting to the role of farm wife, although she was never seen driving a tractor, nor feeding hogs or cattle.

Don and Norma had four children: Richard, Rebecca (Becky), George, and Michele. Embracing motherhood, Norma supported her children in their many endeavors, emphasizing books, music, nature, and church life. A pragmatic parent, she was said to let her kids make their own mistakes, remarking, “There’s more than one way to get an education.”

Platte Center Presbyterian Church was a key focus of Norma’s life. There she made lifelong friends of all ages while serving in the Women’s Association, as a Sunday school and Bible school teacher, and in numerous other capacities. In 1974, Norma had the distinction of becoming the first woman elder of the church.

For 20 years, Norma volunteered as an advocate for nursing home residents, visiting with them about their care, conveying their concerns to the director of nursing and the Iowa Department on Aging.

Don and Norma retired from farming in 1990, and moved to Creston. Unfortunately, Don enjoyed the house in town for only one year before passing away. Norma faced her new status with grace, and continued to devote her energies toward family, church work, volunteering, knitting, crochet – and books, always books.

Her later years were brightened by her feline friend, Tessa. They shared deep conversations and a particular love of sardines.

Norma’s life was colored with good humor, generosity and unconditional love. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, infant grandchild, Amber Nicole Hook, her parents, numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, and most recently, her dear cat, Tessa.

Left to honor her memory are: her son Richard (Kathy), and their children Peter (Lisa), Mathew (Meredith), and Jonathan (Becca) Francis; daughter Becky (Les) Hook, and their children Brandon, Whitney, and Kellsey Hook; son George (Sheri Michaels) Francis; daughter Michele (Jim Arnold) Francis and her children Renee Carlson (Mike) Millslagle, Brad (Cat Gleason) Carlson, Eric McPherren, and Daniel McPherren. Great-grandchildren include Paige, Cameron, and Brendan Millslagle.

True to her practical, generous nature, Norma deeded her body for educational purposes to the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. The family extends gratitude to Dr. Karen Krogstad and the staff at Greater Regional Hospice House for their extraordinary, compassionate care.