Norma Mae Rosenow died on May 4, 2023, age 99, at the Lakeview Care Center in Lenexa, Kansas of complications from the Coronavirus. Norma was born on October 5, 1923, to James Hugo and Anna May Dawson of Russellville, Missouri. Norma grew up on a farm surrounded by many family members, friends, and animals.
After graduating from Eugene High School in 1941 Norma worked as a seamstress at a combat pants factory in Jefferson City, Missouri to support the WWII effort. On May 2, 1943, Norma married Lieutenant Richard V. Rosenow in Columbus, Georgia where Richard was stationed with the U.S. Army. During the next several years Norma and Richard lived in San Luis Obispo, California, Austin, Texas, and North Carolina. When Richard was sent by the U. S. Army to The Allied Stage of WWII in Europe, and to Japan in 1945, Norma returned to the family farm in Russellville.
In 1946 Norma moved to Manhattan, Kansas where Richard earned a BS degree in agriculture from Kansas State University. In 1948 they moved to Council Grove, Kansas where Richard worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. In 1950 they were relocated to Alma, Kansas where Norma lived until 2018.
Norma served as the Alma Brownie Troupe leader in 1950-51. She was a member of Chapter No. 270 Order of the Eastern Star of Alma, later the Beulah Chapter No. 34 Order of the Eastern Star of Topeka, the American Legion Post No. 32 of Alma, and the Alma United Methodist Church.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, a brother James S. Dawson, a sister Aulma Alberts, and her husband Richard on May 31, 2004.
Norma is survived by a son Mitchell Paul (Ronette) of Leeās Summit, Missouri; a daughter Tanya Lee Litke (Herbert) of Overland Park, Kansas; grandson Francis āFrankā Vernon Rosenow (Trina) of New Richmond, Ohio; great-grandson Derek Layne Rosenow of Fairfield, Ohio; great-granddaughters Elizabeth Nicole Rosenow, New Richmond, Ohio and Sarah Lynn Lewis (Chad) of Felicity, Ohio; great-great grandsons Tobias Grey Lewis and Saul Matthew Lewis, Felicity, Ohio; and great-great-granddaughter Emilee Reign Rosenow, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Memorial contributions are requested to the Alma United Methodist Church and sent in the care of Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, 4370 Salzer Rd, Wamego, KS 66547.
A Celebration of Life for Norma in Alma, Kansas will be announced at a later date.