Norma Koons

Norma Mae (Salsberry) Koons, 86 of Adel, went to be with the Lord on December 25, 2020 at Adel Acres in Adel, Iowa. On October 20, 1934, Cleo and Clarence Salsberry gave birth to a beautiful daughter and they named her Norma Mae. Just down the county road, Hildreth and Harold Koons had given birth to a handsome baby son on August 4, 1933 and they named him Norman Dale. Several years later Norma and Norman became young teenage sweethearts and eventually married on November 8, 1952. Norman became a truck driver and minister while Norma stayed home to raise their four children, two sons, Lonnie and Randy and two daughters, Debra and Beth. Norma also assisted Norman in the ministry. In 1977, Norman and Norma bought an acreage south of Van Meter, IA and there they raised hogs and cattle. One of Norma’s stories she loved to tell was when the sows were having baby pigs, two of her young grandsons, Justin and Brian, would each sit on a bucket to watch the baby pigs being born. If a baby pig was not moving when it was born, they would pick up the piglet and clean its face and gently shake it until it began to move. The piglet was then placed back in with the momma. Norma was always a shy and quiet person when she was younger. But as she got older, she became very outgoing and made friends wherever she went. People said she had a twinkle in her eye. Preceding her in death are her husband, Norman; her parents, Cleo and Clarence Salsberry; her brothers, Gene and Eddie Salsberry and her sisters, Claudine Komarek and Donna Sickler. Norma is survived by her sons, Lonnie (Roxanne) of Van Meter and Randy (Judy) of St. Charles; her daughters, Debra (Steve) Sheldahl of Peru and Beth Schurman of Mena, Arkansas; 10 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Other survivors include her sister, Patsy (Larry) VandeKamp of Swan, IA; her brother-in-law, Joseph Komarek of Onawa, IA; her sister-in-law, Judy Salsberry of Petersburg, FL; plus numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. Memorial donations may be directed to the DeSoto Calvary Baptist Church. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com