Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at 2:00 PM at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Deshler
Visitation:Monday 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Ahrendts Funeral Home, Deshler
Interment: Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Kiowa, rural Davenport
Norman Theodore Holtzen, of
Deshler
,
NE
, passed away on March 15, 2013, at Parkview Haven Nursing Home in
Deshler
,
NE.
He was born on the family farm at Kiowa, NE near
Davenport
on September 12, 1919, the son of Theodore and Anna (Mueller) Holtzen. He reached the age of 93 years 6 months and 3 days.
Norman
grew up on the family farm near Kiowa, NE and attended the
Kiowa
Lutheran
School
. He was baptized by Rev. John Meyer on September 21, 1919, and confirmed by Rev. O.E. Reimnitz on May 20, 1934 at the
Bethlehem
Lutheran
Church
in Kiowa. He was a member of St Peter Lutheran Church in Deshler since 1967.
Norman
served in the U.S. Army during World War II from June, 11, 1941 to November 9, 1945. He entered basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
Norman
was sent to
New Guinea
and then to the
Philippines
. He also was sent to North Africa where he went through jungle training, and finally was stationed at
Pearl Harbor
. He received the Sharp Shooters award, Good Conduct Metal, Over Seas Metal and the Bronze Star during his military career. After his military service he took over farming operations for the family farm in 1945 and retired in 1986.
Norman
moved to town in 1992 and later moved to
Meadowlark
Heights
in 2010. He enjoyed playing cards, bowling and later in life at age 70 picked up playing golf.
Norman
was also a member of the Deshler Halfman American Legion Post #352. Those left to cherish his memory are his brother and his wife, Elmer and Mildred Holtzen of Deshler; nieces and their husbands, Carol and Bob Swan of Lincoln, NE, Nancy and Eric Trexler of Leonardtown, MD, Bonnie and Gary Schroetlin of Redwood Falls, MN, and Barb and Jeff Bedke of Lincoln, NE; Nephews and their wives, Steve and Terry Holtzen of Kearney, NE, Rod and Margie Holtzen of Davenport, NE, Dale and Ramona Holtzen of Davenport, NE, Dennis and Kim Heitmann of Lincoln, NE, Doyle
and Linda Heitmann of Byron, NE, Marlyn and Chris Heitmann of Byron, NE and Randy and Kathy Heitmann of Cambridge, NE, and many great nieces and nephews and friends.
Norman
was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elda Heitmann; brother, Harold Holtzen; brother-in-law Orvil Heitmann; sister-in-law Lenora Holtzen; and special friend Lucille Brettmann.
