Norma Lorraine Mathes ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

Norma L. Wells, 86 of Iowa City passed away peacefully, Saturday, September 26, 2015.
Graveside services will be held at 1pm Tuesday, September 29th at Memory Gardens Cemetery, followed by Memorial Services at 2 pm at Zion Lutheran Church with the Reverend Mark Pries officiating. A memorial fund has been established in her memory. Online condolences and memories may be shared with her family through the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Norma Lorraine Mathes was born November 18, 1928, on the family farm north of Hills, IA, the 6th. Child of Otho L. and Irene (McLaughlin) Mathes. She grew up attending one room schoolhouses near Hills and Morse in rural Johnson County, graduated from University High School in 1947, then attended the University of Iowa.

She married Eldwin Wilbur Wells "Ed" on August 19, 1948, at the First English Lutheran Church in Iowa City. They had four children, Linda Sue, Shirley Jean, James Eldwin, and Scott Alan.

In the early years Norma did secretarial work in the College of Education and also at Economy Advertising. They had lived in Tama/Toledo, IA, Oklahoma City, OK, and Omaha, NE. In Omaha she worked as the bookkeeper at Wagner Electric Corporation where Ed was branch manager. In 1971 they moved back to Iowa City where she worked at ADS (Advanced Drainage Systems) while also helping her husband renovate houses into several apartment units. She then began her own business, Colonial Park Business Services while also doing bookkeeping for Herteen and Stocker Jewelers. She formally closed her business and retired at the age of 84. During her working years she also was known to many to do resumes, thesis, transcribing legal papers and various other writing projects. Norma was most proud of her work she did for Hualing Nieh Engle, wife of Paul Engle on his memoirs.

Norma enjoyed making many cross stich, needlework, miniatures and quilt projects. She was active in OES (Order of Eastern Star) and the Bethlehem Shrine for more than 60 years, holding many offices in both including Worthy Matron.

She is survived by her four children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Bill Mathes, sisters, Mary Wilma Fountain, Jeanne Schooley, Doris Mathes and Joyce Redding.
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  Birth Notes:

Name: Norma Loraine Mathes
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 18 Nov 1928
Event Place: Liberty Township, Johnson, Iowa, United States
Event Place (Original): Liberty, Johnson
Gender: Female
Father's Name: Otha Leab Mathes
Father's Birthplace: Missouri
Father's Age: 39
Father's Birth Year (Estimated): 1889
Mother's Name: Stella Irene McLaughlin
Mother's Birthplace: Liberty
Mother's Age: 37
Mother's Birth Year (Estimated): 1891

Citing this Record
"Iowa, Birth Records, 1921-1942," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJP-8YVD : 30 October 2019), Stella Irene McLaughlin in entry for Norma Loraine Mathes, 18 Nov 1928; citing Birth, Liberty Township, Johnson, Iowa, United States, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• Birth Image: 18 November 1928, in Liberty Township, Johnson County, IA. ¹

• She appeared on the 1930 US Census in Liberty Township, Johnson County, IA on April 1930. ²

1930 US Census
Sheet 5A, District 14, Family 86, Roll 661
Liberty Township, Johnson County, Iowa, United States
Norma L. Mathes..Daughter..1..IA

(Living with parents.)
.

• She appeared on the 1940 US Census in Graham Township, Johnson, IA on 18 April 1940. ³

1940 US Census
Sheet 5A, District 52-11, Family 82, Roll 1171
Graham Township, Johnson County, Iowa, United States
Last Place of Residence: Johnson, Iowa
Home owned, $2500
Norma L. Mathes..Daughter..11..IA..5th grade

(Living with parents.)
.