Norma Louise Otterson's Obituary
Norma Louise Otterson 97, of Waupaca, WI went to her heavenly home on January 17th, 2024.
Norma came into this world as the youngest daughter of John and Mabel Otterson on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 1926 at home in Scandinavia, Wisconsin. The doctor and his wife came from a New Year’s Eve party to deliver her. Norma was number 8 in the Otterson family that was written up in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. The first initials of the names of the Otterson children spelled “Americans”. Their dad, John, known as “Pops, came from Norway at age 18 and married Mabel Buer of Scandinavia. They were both very patriotic and Mable loved anagrams. That is how the Otterson “Americans” came to be.
Norma, also known as “Ahmie” overcame the effects of polio she had at age 5 and went on to conquer life head-on. Norma learned to play the piano early. She played the piano as an accompanist for Sunday School as well as high school. She also learned the trumpet and played the saxophone for Union Free High School Band in Scandinavia and was a member of the girls athletic association and glee club.
After graduation she worked in Iola at the REA office and then someone approached her from the Madison Orthopedic Hospital, where she had been treated for polio, and offered to send her to Vocational School. She majored in business taking shorthand, typing, and bookkeeping. She got a job with Wisconsin Public Service in Green Bay in the payroll department and moved to Green Bay in 1947 where she became a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Norma said she grew up always believing in Jesus and her faith and commitment grew through the years both personally and through her church. She shared her love of Christ by her life. She played piano for Grace Lutheran Sunday School and Saturday night services as well as helping out in the office.
Norma enjoyed bowling and playing golf. She was an avid Packer fan and went with her friend Lil at the office to get season tickets for the Packers and had those tickets for more than 30 years even after she retired in 1989. Norma had two friends; Ingeborg from Norway and Martha who cared for people with disabilities in Green Bay. They asked Norma to consider being a guardian for Bonnie who had cerebral palsy because Ingeborg had to go back to Norway in the early 90s. She was a guardian for Bonnie for more than 20 years and it nearly broke her heart to have to give that up.
Norma never married but has enjoyed her sisters and brothers and her 21 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. Norma was very easy going and always said, “We’ll just take it one day at a time and we’ll see which way the wind blows!”
Norma was preceded in death by her father and mother John and Mabel Otterson, siblings: Ann (Don) Stern, Milo (Marcella) Otterson, Edna (Woody) Latsch, Cliff (Ruth) Otterson, Alice (John) Creely, Irene (Ray) Wagner, Sidney (Jan) Otterson, brother-in-law Alvin Nygard and her niece, Nancy Smith. Norma is survived by her sister Ruby Nygard of Moorhead, MN. She is also survived by 21 nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews along with other relatives and friends.
A memorial service for Norma will be held on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 at the Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca at 2 p.m. A memorial gathering will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at 2 p.m. at the Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca. Memorials may be sent to Grace Lutheran Church, 321 S Madison St, Green Bay, WI 54301 or can be sent to a charity of your choice.
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