Norma Oberman Peters

Norma Oberman Peters died peacefully in her home on November 23, 2025. At 101 years of age, she outlived most of her contemporaries but was a blessing to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She valued God, family and hard work her entire life, always eager to help anyone in need.

Born on August 31, 1924, to Henry and Elizabeth Redicker Oberman, Norma was the third daughter, preceded by Mildred (Wessel) and Louise (Hackman) and followed by the only boy, Lewis. They lived on the family farm in Brownstown Township, Jackson County where they all helped with farm chores, attended primary school and church at Wegan Evangelical Lutheran Church, and enjoyed social activities with family and friends.

Norma attended 8th grade at Slygo School and three years at Brownstown High School. While still in school, she met Frederick Robert Peters of Vallonia at a church pie social (Walther League youth group). Fred bought her homemade pie, they began dating and got engaged soon after. He left for World War II as a combat engineer and Norma went to work at Noblitt-Sparks in Columbus using a punch press to trim the tops of fuel and water cans for the war effort. She and Louise roomed with a local couple, coming home on the bus every weekend. When Fred returned after two years of distinguished service, they were married at the family farm on Dec. 16, 1945.

Fred and Norma began married life together in a rented home until they bought the Borcherding farm where their first son, Dennis, was born, followed by Larry three years later.

The family ran Peters IGA Market in Vallonia from 1951 until 1961 and lived in a concrete- block home with pink shutters that Fred had built himself. Daughter, Janet, and son, Frederick John, were born during that time; then the family moved to California where Fred worked as a Sears salesman. They moved several times back and forth to Indiana, California, New Mexico and Texas before settling in Jackson County.

After Fred's death in 2001, Norma lived with Dennis and his wife, Karen; then at Fairington Apartments in Columbus with Janet as part-time caregiver, and finally with son, John, at the same house she and Fred had bought in 1978 near Starve Hollow Lake. Her church membership was transferred locally from Wegan to Immanuel Lutheran in Seymour, and finally to Trinity Lutheran in Vallonia. Norma often participated in church quilting bees and the LWML (Lutheran Women's Mission League).

Over the years, Norma worked at Fred's grocery store, Nolting's IGA and a laundromat in Seymour, Spartan's in Brownstown and the Medora Plastics Plant but was mostly a stay-at-home mom who enjoyed sewing, cooking and crafts. In addition to expertly mending clothes, Norma sewed intricate pieces such as square-dance dresses for her daughter.

Her family most enjoyed her fried chicken meal, roast beef with all the fixings, Ground Beef Grand-Style dish, pumpkin pie and cobblers. In recent years at Vallonia, her favorite pastime was sitting on John's covered porch watching deer in the field, chipmunks coming for food on the porch, and hummingbirds at the feeders. She also enjoyed reading inspirational books and magazines, looking through old family photo albums, and jotting down the history of her long life.

Norma is survived by her four children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren plus nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on November 26, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vallonia, with viewing at 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Norma will be buried next to her husband, Fred, at the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Donors Choice. Dinner will be provided for the family and close friends after the burial in the church basement.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnsonfh.net.