Norma R. Gehring

Norma R. Gehring

Iowa City

Norma Ruth Gehring (1935-2025) passed away 2 days before her 90th birthday.

She was born in northeast Iowa to Lawrence and Edna (Brackin) Gehring, 5th of 7 children.

She taught 4th grade in Peoria, AZ, spending summers in Iowa on the family farm near Elgin.

Her life was filled with quiet good humor, generosity, and hard work. She was infinitely kind, uplifting everyone around her. A 4th grade elementary teacher, an avid genealogist, she enjoyed traveling, Nashville music, loved basketball, and having front row Phoenix Suns season tickets for 30+ years.

At the age of 65 she started over and in the next 25 years was very active in Iowa City: Peace & Justice at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, created 4F at Lantern Park (Family, Friends, Faith & Fun!) NAMI, free lunch programs, many courses at the Senior Center, and attended University sports and music events.

Per Norma’s wishes, no service is planned at this time. Her cremated remains will be buried this fall near her parents in the Apostolic Christian cemetery between Elgin and Elkader.

She is survived by her sister Janet Luise (Tom Hickey); nieces and nephews, Mary (Con) Rees, Joan Kuhl, Wes D. Gehring, Sue (John) Wetherell, Bill Meighan, Mike Van Sickel, Kelly (Mark) Flint; honorary niece Mary (Kevin) Piscator; and other friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Edna Gehring; 5 siblings, Larry Jr. (Shirley), Jerry (Marilyn), Joyce (Jack) Van Sickel, Grace (Tom) Meighan, Edith (Leo) Bryant; and nephews Russell and Mark Gehring.