Jon L. Narmi

1947 - 2025

Jon L. Narmi

September 7, 1947 - December 30, 2025

Jon Louis Narmi, age 78, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025, at 3 p.m., which coincided with the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. December 30th is also the birthday of his daughter Dr. Ann Narmi, which was likely his own special way of always keeping their bond close, even in death.

Jon was born on September 7, 1947, to Mike and Gertrude Narmi, and he was their only child to be born in a hospital. Jon was the youngest of 11 children at the infamous 35th and Avenue D household, and he was often referred to as the Golden Boy by his much older siblings, due to his late arrival and being raised as if he was an only child.

Jon is a 1965 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School where he met his wife of over 56 years, Candy (Smith) Narmi. Jon and Candy have both been inducted into the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame and are extremely proud of their Council Bluffs and West End roots.

Jon received an associate's degree at Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the University of Iowa, a Master of Business Administration at Creighton University, and was a graduate of the Security Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Jon and Candy were extremely blessed with their first-born son Joe, who was also born on September 7th, the same birthday as Jon. Hoping that near perfection could be duplicated, they went on to have two more children, Dr. Ann Narmi and Charlie. Jon's children are producers, and he was blessed with 11 grandchildren, who were known to him as #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, and #11.

Jon is the founding partner of The Narmi Group and actively worked in the financial industry since 1971. Jon got his start at Chiles, Heider and Company, where he met many of his lifelong friends that he remained close to throughout his life. Jon referred to himself as the CB Scrapper and hosted the CB Scrapper Golf Tournament for his Omaha colleagues for many years at the Council Bluffs Country Club, even though he didn't golf. Jon worked with his prodigal son, Charlie, from 2001 until his retirement in 2022.

Jon was a speaker at various corporate events, as well as a guest lecturer for Cunard Lines, sharing lecture time with authors Irving Stone and Ken Adelman, a former President Reagan advisor. Jon was the recipient of the 2008 Council Bluffs Community Pride Award (n/k/a Celebrate CB). Jon's Council Bluffs Community Pride Award Roast was so legendary that it was no longer held after the year he won it. Jon was a founding member of the Rude Dog Adventure Team, based now out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. As part of this elite group, Jon extensively traveled the globe in search of the next conquest, such as rafting the Class V-Cataract Canyon in southern Utah or skiing the Alps in Austria. He completed a 210-mile snowmobile adventure with the Rude Dogs at Togwotee in the Grand Tetons at the age of 70. Jon wrote the novel Seal Team 6: Bin Laden and Beyond, in which all royalties are dedicated to The Wounded Warrior Project and Navy SEAL Foundation. Jon's military and counter-terrorism expertise landed him on numerous radio talk shows around the country.

Jon and Candy were awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Bishop Richard Pates, which is the highest honor given to the laity by the Pope. Jon and Candy were members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Jon was a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. He led the weekly Wednesday morning Interdenominational Bible study group at Panera's, that he took over from the late Dr. Harold Noe. Jon was inducted into the St. Albert Hall of Recognition's Inaugural Class.

Jon served on the Board of Directors for the Saint Albert School Board, the Saint Albert Foundation, Bethany Lutheran Home, Catholic Charities, Children's Square U.S.A., Saint Patrick's Parish, Spirit Catholic Radio, the Phoenix House, Bergan Mercy Medical Center, Alegent Health Mercy Hospital, and the Creighton University Alumni Association. Jon was an Iowa Western Community College Football Founder's Club Member and Wrestling Founder's Club Member, which helped fund the startup of the Reiver football and wrestling programs. Jon was a Founding Member of the Kanesville Riders Honor Guard, despite never having owned a motorcycle.

Jon was a unique Legend. He wasn't always right, but he was always certain. He loved a big challenge. Jon chaired numerous capital campaigns in the Council Bluffs and Omaha community, and his relentless determination and vision led to the raising of tens of millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. Jon's message in the Narmi Group's Quarterly newsletter was always, "Please continue to be generous with your time, talent, and treasure, and giving some of your excess funds to your children, place of worship, school or local charity. This is where the true dividends of life are paid."

Jon is preceded in death by his beloved mother and father, Gertrude and Mike Narmi; parents-in-law, Charles and Viola Smith; brothers, Joe (Dorothy), Louis, Anthony (Donnella), Francis (Dorothy), Ronnie (Faye), Art, and Mike Narmi; sisters, Kathryn (Cliff) Shudak, Betty (Tony) Inserra, Dolly (Sam) Gentile; brothers-in-law, Bill (Carolyn) Kiger, Chuck (Carol) Smith, Dick Peterson, and Floyd Matthew; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jon is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Saint Candy; children, Joe (Sally) Narmi, Ann (Justin Nelson) Narmi, and Charlie (Melissa) Narmi; his 11 grandchildren, Sam, Allison, Alexis, Noah, Ella, Ruby, Kathryn, and Jack Narmi, and Thomas, Charlie, and Patrick Nelson; sisters-in-law, Lois Narmi, Janice Petersen, and Nancy Matthew; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

Visitation with the family and friends will be held on Monday, January 5, from 3 to 7 p.m., with a Chrisitan Wake Service at 6 p.m., all at St. Patrick's Church in Council Bluffs. Jon would have asked you not to hold up the line by talking to Candy all afternoon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 6, at 10 a.m., also at St. Patrick's Church. Internment will be at the Walnut Hill Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at St. Patrick's Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Narmi Family Scholarship at Saint Albert, which ensures that a Saint Albert education is accessible to any student who desires it, regardless of their financial resources, or the Narmi Family Scholarship at the Creighton University Heider School of Business.

The Narmi Family is eternally grateful for the care of Jon during the past two and a half years by the HomeCare Advocacy Network of Southwest Iowa, AseraCare Home Hospice, and the Hansen House. Jon received exceptional care, and his caretakers are truly Angels on earth. Please say an extra prayer for these healthcare workers whose role is to usher us all with dignity into the After Life.