Norman Kaiser

Norman Kaiser passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, surrounded by his family, moments after receiving the Last Rites from Father Eric Mashak.

Norman was born on August 7, 1935, in Marshfield, WI, to George and Barbara (Theurer) Kaiser. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Stratford. Norman voluntarily served in the Korean Conflict as a U.S. Army Combat Engineer. He was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in June 1958.

Norman was united in marriage to Ann Fliss on September 10, 1960, in Bevent, WI. Norman would readily admit that Ann was truly the love of his life and carried the majority of the child-rearing responsibilities. However, he was integral in instilling a competitive edge in his children. Norm taught them that, regardless of circumstances, you can always have fun. He was a master at creating competitive games that likely only farm kids can relate to, including barefoot races on gravel and long jumps out of the back of the barn—with not-so-pleasant landing areas and occasionally inadequate takeoffs.

Norman was known by many as “Stormin’ Norman,” and for good reason. When he committed to something, he was all in—whether serving his country, building a family, or enjoying life in general. He will be remembered for his love of food (especially sweets), animals, nice vehicles (not many farmers were known for owning a Chevy El Camino as a farm truck), and the rural countryside. Later in life, he enjoyed long car rides with his adult children and grandchildren. He was known for his one-liners, including, “They can have Chicago, I’ll take this any day,” “Those woods are thicker than the hair on a dog,” and “I’ll be talking in my sleep tonight, and if I die tonight, I will have seen it all.”

Norman wasn’t perfect—he was perfectly imperfect. A unique and colorful man, he lived life to the fullest and brought joy to many.

Norman is survived by his nine children: Deb (Tom) Hayes; Roy (Karin) Kaiser; Diane (Dave) Austin; Allan (Shari) Kaiser; Randy (Cheryl) Kaiser; Lori (Jon) Kaiser-Balz; Robin (Sarah) Kaiser; and Robert (Judy) Kaiser, all of Stratford; and Cindy (Gary) Dieringer of Marshfield, WI. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by his sisters, Maggie Newmeier and Eleanor Haase.

Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; his mother, Barbara; his father, George; and his sister, Esther Feltz. He was also preceded in death by his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Walter Feltz, Ray Newmeier, David Haase, Ludwig and Elsie Fliss, John and Cynthia Fliss, and Clarence and Emily Burant.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff at Stoney River Memory Care, Heartland Hospice, and Three Oaks, as well as the volunteers who shared their time and talents with Norman and all the residents—especially John Berger and his dog, Barclay, and Bucky Drexler and the Balsam Road Ramblers.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., both at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stratford. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the Town of Eau Pleine. Military rites will be conducted by VFW Memorial Post 6352 of Stratford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be designated to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Memorial Post 6352, Stratford. Memorials may be mailed to:

Diane Austin
119151 Balsam Road
Stratford, WI 54484