Obituary for Norman C. "Norm" Ira

He was born January 31, 1937, in Protivin, Iowa, to Jerome and Adella Ira. Norm grew up on the family farm in Protivin. He graduated from Rudolphinum High School in 1955. Norm attended Northwest Medical Lab School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a lab technician in Clintonville and Hillsboro, Wisconsin for several years. He was also a painter as a side job. Many of the houses in Hillsboro have felt the swipe of his paint brush, both inside and out. Norm retired from Vernon Electric in Hillsboro after 22 years of service.

Norm married Jackie Robison in 1964. They had three children together-Mike, Shelly, and Mark Ira. They were later divorced. Norm married Laura Berg on May 11, 1995. They lived in West Salem, Wisconsin. Norm’s greatest joy was polka dancing with his wife, Laura. They traveled throughout the Midwest dancing at many Polka festivals and making many new friends.

Norm also liked to bowl, play pool, and basketball. He earned many trophies and awards. After retirement, Norm volunteered at the American Red Cross and drove for RSVP for seventeen years. He logged over 10,000 hours throughout the area. Many of his passengers loved and adored him for his kindness, patience, and polka music on the car radio. He also loved to play cards, especially Euchre. You had to be pretty sharp to beat him!! Norm was a member of the St. Teresa of Kolkata (formerly St. Leo’s) Catholic Church in West Salem from 1999 until his passing. Survivors include his wife, Laura; children, Mike Ira, Shelly (Dan) Sagert, Mark (Lisa) Ira; step-children, Daniel (Penny) Hohmann, and Donald (Stacy) Hohmann; grandchildren, Garrett Sagert, Jake and Kylie Ira, Dylan Hohmann and Nikki Severson, Stephanie (Jamie) Waletzki, Douglas (Desiree) Hohmann, Dalton (Cheyanne) Hohmann; step-great-grandchildren, Jaiden and Jaxson Severson, Scarlet and Lane Waletzki, Kayden and Brayden Hohmann; sister-in-law, Lyla Ira; and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Norbert Ira; and uncle and aunt, Martin and Hattie Frana.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in West Salem. Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill will celebrate. Burial will follow in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Hillsboro, Wis., at 2:00 p.m. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m., until the time of Mass, Tuesday, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and may be given to the St. Teresa of Kokata Parish Building Fund.

Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Jostad Chapel, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.jandtfredrickson.com