Norma June Vanwaardhuizen

Norma June Van Waardhuizen was the daughter of John Van Genderen and Elizabeth ‘Bertha’ Jansen and born on a farm near Sully, Iowa on June 8, 1932. She passed away November 20, 2021 at the age of 89, surrounded by family at the home of Garry and Linda.

A visitation for Norma will be held on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. with family present to greet friends and relatives.

Norma attended country school in the Sully area. In 1943 her family moved to a farm northeast of Monroe where she attended country school, participated in the 8th Grade Graduation ceremony in Newton in 1946, and then attended high school in Monroe graduating in 1950.

On July 12, 1950, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa wedding vows were exchanged by Norma and Harris Arthur Van Waardhuizen. She was the first child to “leave the nest” as noted in the family’s genealogy. To this union four children were born: Garry, Robert, Karla, and Randy. The couple farmed south of Prairie City until 1960. Then they purchased a farm west of Knoxville where they remained into retirement, spending summers camping at Robert’s Creek and returning home during the off-season.

Norma was always by Harris’ side – it was often said you could find her that way. She was his helpmate in farming whether on a tractor, bringing seed to field, unloading grain, or helping with livestock. While they were fishing, she often fell victim to his stray fishhook. She enjoyed cooking and through the years raised a garden, made clothes for the kids, made strawberry jam for Harris’ toast, and seemed to always be frying morel mushrooms.

Norma and Harris served as campground hosts of Robert’s Creek Park for 14 years where they made many friends and lots of memories, they dreaded the season ending, anxiously waiting to return in the spring. Often, she was seen riding around the park with her favorite dog, Penny, on her lap. After being in town for a lunch, she often saved a bite or two from a hamburger, “this is for Penny” she would say.

Those left to cherish her memory include children: Garry & Linda Van Waardhuizen of Knoxville; Robert & Deb VanWaardhuizen of Pleasantville; Karla & Dan Fox of Crystal Lake, Illinois; and Randy Van Waardhuizen of Pleasantville. Grandchildren: James (Aubrey) Van Waardhuizen, Mike (Vicki) Van Waardhuizen; Brenda Van Waardhuizen, Melissa (Rodney) Nevels, Bobbi Jo (David) Ammons; Stephen (Melissa) Fox, Kristina Fox; Shawna (Andy) Brown. Great Grandchildren: Hailey and Ian Van Waardhuizen; Jesse (Angel) Chapin, John Paul (Cheyenne) Chapin; Dakota Cingle, Chelsea (Nick) Hughes); Ashley and Josie Houser; Dillen, Carson, Elizabeth Ammons; Eliana Fox; Raelynn and Kinlee Brown; plus a great great granddaughter, Kylee.

She is also survived by siblings and spouses: Genevieve Dop of Newton, Lois (Carroll) Van Gorp of Reasnor, Lila De Kruyff of Otley, and Ronald Van Genderen of Monroe.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harris in 2014; brother Russell Van Genderen; brothers-in-law Jim De Kruyff and Wilson Dop; sisters-in-law Ruth Van Genderen and Lois Van Genderen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Suncrest Hospice.