Norma Joyce Strand

Norma Joyce Strand (nee Carlson)

Entered God’s Loving Arms on January 8, 2024, age 93. Beloved wife of 72 years of LaVern W. Strand. Loving mother of Joyce Baldwin, Bert (Joannie) Strand, Jim (Lisa) Strand, Sandy (Bob) Reynolds, Dede (Mark) Strand and Carol Strand. Loving grandmother of many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Also loved by other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by her 2 sisters, Jean Marie and Clara and brothers, Donald, Dean and Danny and parents, Gust and Zella Carlson.

Norma Joyce grew up on a farm in Woodstock, Illinois with two younger brothers, Dean and Danny. She always said that someday she would marry a blue-eyed, blond-haired guy from Milwaukee. On June 16^th, 1951, when she was 21 years old, she married Vern Strand from Milwaukee, who incidently has blue eyes. Vern joined the 128^th Air Control and Warning Squadron and in August 1951, he was called up to serve in Bangor Maine during the Korean Conflict. Norma and Vern spent 13 months together there, in a small apartment, and they returned home to Milwaukee with their first child, a daughter named Joyce.  They built a home in West Allis where they lived all their lives, raising 6 kids, (Joyce, Bert, Jim, Sandy, Dede and Carol and always had a dog or two.  There was no wrestling in the living room (Ha!) Norma always had beautiful roses, tulips, and flower gardens. She knew all the names of all her flowers and she also was known for cherry pies (the best in town) apple slices and chocolate chip cookies.

Vern and Norma were strong in their faith and joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church when they moved to West Allis. All the kids were baptised and confirmed there. On Sunday mornings, when they were in town, you could always find them in Row 6 on the Pulpit side with a bunch of kids in the pew with them. In Florida they were members of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church until it closed and then Bethlehem Lutheran Church after that.

In 1968, after Carol was in first grade, Norma got a job at M.A. Garette assembling one pound propane cyclinders for $5.99/hr, drivng every day to Menominee Falls.  This gave her extra money for bowling, bus trips and family vacations.  Gas was much cheaper then.

Vern and Norma loved to fish, camp and travel. Being from the flatlands of Illinois, she wasn’t too keen on travel in the mountains but they went everywhere they could during their vacations, all over the country. She was very competitive while fishing and would pout if Vern or Jim threw her fish back for being too small. After fishing, she would walk up and down the bar telling people her fish stories 2-3 times.  She has two fish mounts in the rec. room, downstairs, a small-mouth bass and a Tiger Muskie.

In 2006, She and Vern became snowbirds and stayed at Fairways III, in Lehigh Acres for 10 winter seasons. She loved the warmth of Florida and how flat it was. She was a very competitive shufffleboard player and won 1^st place during her first season. She even had a special jacket that the kids made for her that was embroidered with “Shuffleboard Queen.” on it and she wore it proudly.

She loved to dance with Vern to waltzes and 2 steps. They loved Big Band and Classic Country music. Bingo, Piinochle, and Sheepshead were her favorites card games but Canasta was her specialty.

Vern & Norma were married for 72 years, enjoying each other’s company.   Norma went peacefully to be with Jesus on January 8th, 2024 at the age of 93 and is still dancing in the gardens of heaven.   She was so loved by family and friends and we will be certainly miss her greatly

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 3:00 PM – 5:45 PM. Service 6:00 PM. Private burial Highland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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