March 28, 2024

Matthew Norman

Omaha, Neb.

Matthew Shane Norman of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at the age of 41.

A memorial service in memory of Matt will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Creston. Visitation with family receiving friends will begin at 1 p.m. A private burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, south of Creston. There will also be a second memorial service 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Faith Westwood United Methodist in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made for college funds for Harvey and Arlo or make a donation to your favorite charity in Matt's name. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Matt was born and raised in Creston, graduating in 1994. Matt’s passion for music began in his high school years and continued throughout his entire life. He attended Buena Vista University and graduated with degrees in performing arts and music education in 1999. While in college, Matt developed an interest in philanthropy and environmental causes.

After college graduation, Matt and his friend Andy Offenberger embarked on a yearlong 48-state adventure, called Journey America, to document and record life in the U.S. at the turn of the century. In September 2001, Matt was hired to teach English in Japan and spent three years there. Following Japan, Matt joined two friends venturing through 20 countries from Mongolia to Ireland. Coming home to the U.S., he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked as a senior sales manager and performed in coffee shops, weddings and other venues. He also took a turn chairing the Omaha Earth Day celebration. His love of music continued, and he sang with the Omaha Chamber Singers, the Omaha Symphonic Chorus, and more recently, Heartland Harmonizers (barber shop). Music brought him to his wife, Emily Anderson, and they were married in May 2012. Then along came Harvey, age 3, and Arlo, age 1.

Treasuring his memory are his wife Emily; his precious children, Harvey James and Arlo Jackson; his parents, Jim and Debbie Norman; his sister Heather; his nieces, Stella and Charlotte and his grandmother Donna Thaden. Matt will also be forever remembered by his large extended family and countless friends.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bob and Charlotte Norman; his grandfather Jim Thaden and his uncle Don Norman.