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Katherine Norman Obituary
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March 18, 1948 – October 19, 2023
Katherine Norman, age 75 of Monroe, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2023, in her home under hospice care.
Born March 18, 1948, to the late William and Josephine (Grastich) Neikirk. Kathy attended Monroe High School. After school, she became a loving homemaker to her husband and children.
Kathy worked at Detroit Edison Company for 16 years before retiring in 2000. While working there, she met and married the love of her life: Anthony "Tony" Norman in January 1992, in Monroe. They spent over 31 wonderful years together.
Kathy was a member of the Pinesetters Camping Club for many years. She loved traveling in their camper to many different places. They even drove all the way to Alaska in their camper with two dogs and a cat. Both Kathy and Tony traveled all over the world to places like Peru, South America, Mexico, and France. During the winter months, they were snowbirds and traveled down to Dade City, Florida.
Kathy was a long-time volunteer at the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Organization in Coldwater. She was also part of a Ladies Lunch group where she got together with her girlfriends. In her free time, she enjoyed collecting ceramic chickens which she acquired wherever she went. She liked to go fishing on their pontoon boat on Marble Lake at their home in Coldwater. Kathy was also an animal lover and always had pets she cherished.
Beloved wife of Tony Norman. Loving mother of William "Pete" Estes. Dearest grandmother of Tatiana Estes. Also surviving is her brother: Franklin Neikirk.
In addition to her parents, Kathy was preceded in death by her daughter: Jacqueline Estes; and siblings: Betty Froehlich, Alva Neikirk, Kathleen Stump, and Mary Neikirk.
Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Rupp Funeral Home from 9:30 to 12 noon. The service will begin at 12 noon on Wednesday. Officiating is Rev. Larry Detruf.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Kathy are suggested to the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. To donate go to website 278safe.com
Online condolences may be sent to www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Pete Estes
October 24, 2023
To everyone who has reached out to me. I just wanted to say thank you. It really means a lot to me and, you never realize how many people care about you.
This has been a very difficult time for my family. Mom was the cornerstone and, She was very loved will be forever missed and, always remembered.
Mom has not been well for a few years but, she was a fighter and, didn´t give up. My mom certainly was not a quitter.
My mom was my best friend and, has been there for me in my life more times that I could count. She would never let me give up. And was always my voice of reason. Even if I didnt want to hear it at the time. I was going to hear it anyways.
When I was a little boy mom was very attentive and taught me a lot of things.
I remember mom teaching me to read and write before I even started kindergarten. I am pretty sure that is why I am a lefty. :) and how I struggled tying me shoes and,how I would always write my 3´s backwards.
Mom helped me fix that stuff too!
Oh yea mom... I did put Jackie up to flipping the pancake up on the ceiling and, it stuck up there for awhile before you noticed.
And I always fed my peas to Dandy and Molly. Yuck!
Mom was a go getter. I think that My Grandfather B Neikirk instilled that in her with his example.
My sister and I were very little and, most every weekend it seemed like we would walk up town and, she would pay bills and shop.
if she could afford it, she would take us to have lunch at Kreiskies in downtown Monroe.
We always got a cheese burger and fries and sometimes a banana split. I always wanted one of those sundaes that were in the plastic baseball hat but, we couldn´t afford those. I could see it in her face that it would make her sad. Because she wanted me to have it but, that was not in our budget.
I remember those walks like they were yesterday and, they will always be a great memory. I got to know the city of Monroe at a young age.
Mom loved being a homemaker and baking cookies and doing things with Jackie and I when were young. I think that if circumstances were different. Mom would of rather had been a stay at home mother and a homemaker and to care of Jackie and I.
We always walked everywhere! We would cut through the Cemetery on the East side to go see my aunt Kathleen.
I didnt know that at the time it was because we didnt have anything to eat and mom would take us there to eat.
I was really young and, didnt know or understand everything that she was going through at that time. But, Mom always did her best for my sister and I.
She was a wonderful mother even when things seemed to be at their worst she did the best that she could.
As we grew up mom worked a lot and, she found a way to make ends meet.
We always had school clothes every year, and we always had Christmas. Even if Jackie and I only got a little AM radio from Kmart as our only gift. She was so upset about that and, Jackie and, I cheered her up and, and told her it was the best Christmas ever because we were together with her. And it was the best Christmas ever!
My Mom struggled and, she persevered. She did it for the most part on her own for most of my young life. She was amazing!
As I mentioned above. She did the best she could!
Indeed you did mom! You certainly did! And, I am thankful. And so very proud of you.
As I got older as we all do.
Mom managed to survive and she escaped her marriage from my father and, moved forward with her life. And, thats where my dad and her found each other. Two people starting over and, Boy! Did they!
What a team!
Dad brought so much to her life that she was overwhelmed at first. And after a bit she fell in like an old pro. Those two were attached at the hip.
It also made both Jackie and I happy to see mom and her guy out enjoying their lives. They traveled and camped and attended functions together. Mom and Dad were crazy about each other.
I tell Dad that I wish that they would of met sooner!
I always told them that I lived vicariously through their adventures. And mom would share videos and photos of their trips. I remember one particular video from Peru when I had the pleasure of staring at my mom´s butt.butt for about 30 minutes and then my dad´s butt for about the same period of time as they were walking up the steps to Machu Picchu.
Still makes me laugh!
Lets say that we didn´t get to see much of the sights on that video. :)
Then, all of their camping adventures, and going to Navy reunions and traveling abroad. They always brought little trinkets home for us kids that I have, and will always treasure along with the stories.
I can´t speak about my mom without mentioning my dad because to me they´re one in the same. They were always there for each other.
They have been there for me at times when I have struggled they always offered me good advice, and a hand when I needed it, or a swift kick in the butt to get me motivated. My mom saw more in me that I ever saw myself
Mom would always tell me how proud she was of me and I always felt like I needed to do better for mom and dad.
I have so many great memories of them. And remember so many wonderful conversations that we had about just silly things.
Mom would brag about the grandkids and tell me how Wayne and Christina were doing. She loved all of the kids and grandkids.
When I would come visit we would go have dinner.
Sharing meals watching those two at a restaurant was a hoot! I used to always tell the waitresses that they are cute at this age. And they were. Both of them fussing or, saying something out loud that they maybe shouldn´t? Lets say that it was an adventure!
They really looked after each other and I always saw the love that they have for each other.
As an adult, mom became my sounding board, my best friend and, she would call me out on my BS if she felt she needed to.
The past couple of years from pretty difficult as I mentioned above. But mom was always there. I would text mom every morning. "Good morning mom".
And she would text me back "good morning"and then say "I love you" we started doing that shortly after my aunt Mary passed away. And I never missed a day and she would always send me some silly emoji. And sometimes some silly little riddle that gave her a chuckle.
We would send each other´s photos of different things she would send me pictures of the dogs and if dad and I would send her pictures of my cats and whatever else I was doing.
We both would be excited when it was time for her and dad to come down to Florida for the winter.
I know that my mom loved me and still does and she was very proud of me. And my mom certainly knew that I loved her and I still do.
My world has become a lot emptier with the loss of her. I am going to try to move forward and live my best life every day and live by my mothers example. I´m going to say my prayers every morning and every night asking God to look out for my dad and the boys just like how she always prayed for me and all of us.
Mom and Dad. I am doing the best that I can. That is all that we can do!
Please keep us in your prayers and, God Bless.
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2345 South Custer Road, Monroe, MI 48161
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