King, Norman Keith

Norman Keith King, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Visitation will begin an hour before the service.

Born Sept. 1, 1926, to George Edgar and Martha Jean (Greaser) King, in Mount Auburn, Iowa, Norman was the youngest of eight children. He lived an idyllic childhood romping through the hills and valleys around Vinton and Shellsburg hunting, fishing and trapping. Large family gatherings were routine most weekends as was helping family and neighbors with planting and harvesting. He learned to work early and hard and that was how he lived his entire life.

After graduation from high school, Norman worked briefly as a mechanic at Allen Motors until he was drafted into the Army in 1944. He was in charge of a fire station in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he also learned to fly airplanes.

He married Doris Ann (Johnson) King in 1946 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They farmed near Van Horne and Shellsburg while raising four children. After 23 years of marriage, Doris Ann passed away. A couple of years later Norman married Lillian Petsel and they had a son together in 1974.

About 15 years later he retired from farming to begin his second career as a driver for Lanter Courier service. They moved to Cedar Rapids, where Norm enjoyed working around the house and yard when not behind the wheel. Watching his children grow, marry wonderful mates and have their own families was a special joy during his later years.

After Lillian passed away unexpectedly in 2010, Norman and Maggie Elliott, his dear friend and neighbor, enjoyed each other's company and became sweethearts. Maggie made his life complete the past few years.

Norman is survived by his five children, Linda Zeck of Cross Plains, Wis., Shirley Becicka of Coggon, Johnny Ray King, Brett (Tracy) King of Marion and Larry (Jodie) King of Cedar Rapids; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many dear nieces and nephews; and some of the most wonderful neighbors anywhere. They all looked after Norman, helped him, visited and made special meals for him, all of which allowed him to live independently.

Norman passed away Aug. 1, 2013, just one month shy of his 87th birthday.

Special thanks to Mercy Medical Center, Home Choice Senior Care, and Hospice of Mercy for their tender care in his final days.

He was dearly loved and will be missed by many.

Online condolences may be left at .

Published Aug. 4, 2013 in The Gazette