Obit: Vine, Norma #2 (1924 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Vine, Shotwell, Normington, Zieher, Oates, Schiferl, Allington, Handley, Teed, Zank, Koppert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/29/2013

Vine, Norma (7 April 1924 - 26 May 2013)

Norma Normington Vine of Pittsville, formerly of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away May 26, 2013, at the age of 89 due to complications from a recent health issue.

Norma was born April 7, 1924, in Ohio to Alice and Colonel Phillip Shotwell. As a child of a service officer, Norma frequently moved all around the world wherever her father was stationed. As a colonel in the Cavalry, her father trained her to become an expert horseback rider and rifle sharp shooter. While her family was stationed in Tucson, AZ, she met her first husband, Jay Normington, who was attending Air Force flight school. They were married 21 days later, July 18, 1944, and Jay left for his commission in the Pacific area of combat. He was shot down, MIA much to Norma’s dismay. After WWII, Norma and Jay returned to Wisconsin, and went to UW-Madison under the GI Bill of Rights, and she received her teaching degree with a minor in music. Norma got a teaching position at Madison East High School, while Jay finished his CPA. After graduation, the couple moved to Redwood City, CA, where Norma continued her teaching, while Jay worked for a major accounting firm.

After moving back to Wisconsin to raise a family, Jay rejoined a family business, Normington’s Laundry, while Norma began the process of raising their family. She enjoyed her involvement in the community and was a member and/or officer of many clubs such as Travel Class in Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield Woman’s Club, Neillsville Rotary and United Special Sportsman’s Alliance (USSA) Charity. In particular, Norma and Jay were members of the UW-Madison Bascom Hill Society and Alumni Association. Norma and Jay donated the fire truck “Bucky Wagon” which is still used at all Badger home football games.

After making the decision to start a cranberry marsh, Jay and Norma moved west of Pittsville, and founded an Ocean Spray cranberry marsh called Saddle Mound Cranberry, on which she lived full-time for the next 30-plus years, 12 years after the passing of her first husband Jay.

Fortunately, a wonderful man, who had also lost his beloved spouse, came into Norma’s life. She married her second love, Gordon Vine June 2, 2009. Gordon and Norma shared many wonderful times together as they traveled the country. Their summer months were spent splitting time between their Granton Christmas tree farm and their Pittsville cranberry farm.

Norma is survived by her husband, Gordon Vine; son, Peter (Brigid) Normington; daughter, Patricia (Douglas) Zieher; five grandchildren, Matthew (Amanda) Normington, Wesley (Ashley) Normington, Scott (fiancée Dallas Oates) Normington, Breanna (Fiancé Zach Schiferl) Zieher and Bradford Zieher. Norma is also survived by the Gordon Vine children and their families, Lindsey and Ken Allington.

Norma was preceded in death by her first husband, Jay Normington; her parents, Phillip and Alice Shotwell; sister, Sue Handley; and Aunt Mabel Teed.

The funeral service for Norma will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Pastor Jacoba Koppert will officiate. Providing music will be Eileen Zank, organist. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and also from 10 a.m. to 11 a. m. Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the United Church of Christ before the service.

For more insight into Norma’s life, please visit the USSA website www.childwish.com/bob_staff.php. A memorial will be set up in the future. Norma was a warm, loving person and cared deeply for all of God’s creation. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral home is assisting Norma’s family with funeral arrangements.