Norma Thoren

1927 - 2020

NORMA B. THOREN Hiawatha Norma B. Thoren, 93, of Hiawatha, Iowa, died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at her home. Private family services will be held. All invited guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Arrangements were entrusted to Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. Norma was born April 8, 1927, at home on the farm near Thornburg, Iowa, the daughter of Loren and F. Lorene (Doty) Oldaker. She was united in marriage to Gilbert Junior Thoren on Aug. 24, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They were married 73 years and are now united again. Norma worked as a beautician in Oskaloosa. Her greatest joy was raising her family. Norma was a founding member of Hope United Church of Christ and was very active in her church community. She loved being outdoors and square dancing with Gilbert. Norma was a wonderful cook and baker. She will be best remembered for her strawberry rhubarb pie. She is survived by her children, Linda (Mike) Barrigar of Cedar Rapids, Karen Diane (Tom) Arnholt of Nancy, Ky., and Randy (Tracy) Thoren of Hiawatha; three grandchildren, Danielle Gavin of Overland Park, Kan., Derek (Rachel) Albright of Olathe, Kan., and Sarin (Luke) Wilson of Somerset, Ky.; six great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and Reed Gavin, Allie Albright, and Jack, Stella and Olin Wilson; brother, Keith (Glenda) Oldaker of Davenport, Iowa; and many extended family members. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gilbert Thoren, in October 2019; and brothers, Marion, Warren and George Oldaker. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Norma's name may be directed to Hope United Church of Christ or UnityPoint Hospice. Please share a memory of Norma at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.