GARNER - Norma M. Rockow, 94, of Garner died Monday (May 11, 2009) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Thursday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Norma Marie Rockow, the daughter of Cornelius and Marie (Thiemann) Wille, was born October 4, 1914 on a farm northwest of Klemme. She attended Ell Township No. 8 and graduated from Klemme High School in 1933. Norma received her normal training teaching certificate at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and then taught at a country school for a year. On February 10, 1937, she was married to Harold W. Rockow at her parent's home east of Klemme. They lived on the Rockow family farm northwest of Garner all of their married life. After Harold passed away in 1979, Norma continued to live on the farm. She later moved into Garner and in November of 2000 became a resident of Concord Care Center. She enjoyed her family, quilting, embroidery, crafts and playing cards.

She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, LWML, Madison Progressive Club, Madison Birthday Club and Farm Bureau Women.

Norma is survived by her children, Ilene (James) Johnson of Spring, TX, Merlin (Judy) Rockow of Prior Lake, MN, Daryl (Mary Jane) Rockow of Mankato, MN and Elwyn (Barbara) Rockow of Forest City; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; three sisters, Ruby Blanchet of Garner, Ada Rockow of McMinnville, OR and Adala Bailey of Britt; three brothers, Raymond (Alice) Wille of Hampton, Glenn (Anna Lou) Wille of Garner and Darwin (Opal) Wille of Golden, CO; three sisters-in-law, Mary Wille of Corpus Christi, TX, Mildred Kreitlow of Kanawha and Fannie Rockow of Belmond; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; son, Ardell; an infant brother; and brother, Aaron Wille.
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