Norma Jean (Stueve) Kofmehl

Norma J. Kofmehl, age 90, of Holstein, IA Norma passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church of Holstein with Msgr. Kenneth A. Seifried officiating.  Burial will be held at the Calvary Cemetery of Holstein.

Norma Jean Stueve was born on November 29, 1929, near Templeton in Carroll County to Fred and Cecelia (Friedman) Stueve.  She grew up on the family farm and attended Templeton Sacred Heart Schools until her graduation near the top of her class in 1948.  She was very proud of her heritage and her father’s association with the original Templeton Rye. She began her work life in a local pharmacy, amongst her duties there, she worked the soda fountain mixing various concoctions.  Following this she became a telephone operator, eventually landing in Storm Lake.  She met her future husband, Charles Francis Kofmehl, at an outdoor rosary in Carroll, Iowa.  They were married on May 2, 1953 and in 1955 they moved to Holstein, where they both remained until passing.

Four children were born to this union; Steven, Kristine, David and Thomas.  Charlie continued to work for Iowa Public Service Co. and Norma stayed home and raised her children well. They were dedicated members of OLGC Catholic Church.  Life was good and both were involved in various clubs and organizations, having many friends and social connections.  Tragically, in 1971, Charlie suffered a debilitating stroke and was permanently disabled.  Norma took over all operations of running the household, caring for her husband now as well as her children.  She overcame every burden through her faith, friends and family.  She was an excellent cook, could get out any stain, and found ways to manage her limited resources so that her children never wanted for anything.  After Charlie’s death in 2005, she continued to be the loving caretaker for all around her, especially her children and grandchildren.  Her house was the center of family activity and gatherings where good food and drinks were shared with laughter and love. She was the one to bring warm soup to a sick friend, to offer a shoulder to cry on, had a quick wit, and always offered supportive prayers and a loving nudge in the right direction.

Preceding Norma in death were her husband Charles; her parents; her siblings, Eugene Stueve and Eunice Stark; her brothers and sisters in law; and her grandson, Nicholas Flater.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her children, Steve (Marilyn) Kofmehl, Kristine (Jerry) Flater, David (Laurie) Kofmehl, and Tom (Laura) Kofmehl; grandchildren Karl (Cheyanne) Kofmehl, Anne Kofmehl (Steve Lundy), Kate (Jimmy) Oltmann, Alison (Keegan) Svendsen, Jeffrey (Nicole) Kofmehl, Grant Kofmehl, Meg Kofmehl, John Kofmehl and Kate Kofmehl;  and six great grandchildren.