Goodbye Grandpa Norman

On April 29 (Wendy's birthday) Grandpa Norman passed away. He was 94 years old. He and Grandma had celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary a couple of weeks before. Grandpa Rex was taken to the hospital at 3:00 in the morning. He was in a coma. Many family members were able to go to the hospital that day to see him and say their good-byes. Grandpa slipped away peacefully around 11:35 that night.

The funeral was May 5th (Derek's Birthday). Both Wendy and Jen recounted their memories on their family blogs. The Jensen Journal - Grandpa Norman Funeral and Memories. The Blackham Bunch - Goodbye Grandpa Norman. Both contain memories of Grandpa, and some reactions from the grandkids that might not have been known to everyone else.

(click on image to enlarge)

The Obituary ...

August 31, 1915 ~ April 29, 2010

On April 29, 2010, our beloved father and grandfather, Rex Norman, passed away peacefully after almost 95 years of a rich life. He leaves behind for a short season Zada, his eternal sweetheart and companion of 72 years. In their quiet and unassuming manner, they raised three children and left a legacy of five generations of 73 strong and contributing individuals, who love and revere them. As dad goes to prepare a mansion to receive her we will continue to care for our mom.

Dad was born in Richfield, Utah to Herbert LaVar and Louella McGee Norman. The family moved to Mt. Pleasant, UT where he eventually met and married Zada Howell of Fairview in the LDS Manti Temple on April 13, 1938. As a father of three, he proudly served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. They settled in Salt Lake City, where dad commenced a career in data processing, working some 33 years with the Utah State Department of Employment Security.

Dad’s favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing with family and friends, often near his ancestral home in Sanpete County or Strawberry Reservoir. He faithfully served in many capacities within his LDS ward, typically in the background, while proudly supporting his family and friends.

Rex is survived by his wife; Zada, daughters Nelva (Arnold) Griffiths, and Marjorie (LaMar) Westra and a son Merrill (Lorrie); sister Bonnie (Wallace) Allred; 16 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren and a great, great-granddaughter.

Preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, a sister and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at noon, Wed. May 5th at East Millcreek 9th Ward Chapel, 3750 So. Hillside Lane (2500 E.), where family and friends may call Tues, evening 6-8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to services on Wed. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn.

As part of the service, there was a vase filled with beautiful red roses. 

73 roses -- one for each of Grandma and Grandpa's descendants. 

We were all instructed to take one for each family member.

At the luncheon afterward, there was a lot of visiting and remembering with relatives and cousins we hadn't seen in a while. Goodbye Grandpa ... you will be missed. 

Read Grandpa Rex's autobiography and check out all the posts about Grandpa Rex.

Uncle Dunk - Super Styles!

It was Easter 2010. Grandpa Norman (Rex) had been going through things in the house, cleaning out things and getting rid of stuff. There was this box of clothes, and Mom/Margie had Derek look through it to see if there was anything he might like before they were taken to D.I.  Derek tried some things on, a little family fashion show. That IS quite the jacket! Were there matching pants? Derek didn't keep anything, but I'm sure someone will consider it quite the find in the future.

Grandpa Norman was there at the Easter party - and little did we know that just 25 days later he would pass away.

Easter 2010

Easter was on April 4th this year ... a little early, and there was still some snow in shady spots. 

The Westra party was on "Easter Eve", on Saturday at 1:00.  

There were the usual CRAZY hiding places ... not really hidden, just hard to reach! 

Quite a few in trees too.

... now THAT is a basket full of eggs!

That's before the hiding, hunt and haul.

 The big boys ...  didn't gather eggs but still got some treats ;)

... and that was Easter 2010.

Join us at Johnny's

It started out as a few families attempting to get together for February birthdays. Let the emails begin ...

• Jen: We should really have a big Westra Side birthday bash, don't you think?
• Mom: Derek has invited us and Danielle's family over Sat. evening for cake and ice cream for her birthday--kind of a surprise, so far. I told him that Chris and boys would be over and we'd maybe be tending your boys. We could have D & D over to dinner the next day or something--or have them join us if we take you out Fri. night. We could take them too for her birthday.
• Derek: I think it would be fun to do a dinner Friday night -- I think three nights this weekend might be a little much (as far as the Westra bash goes) since we'd be doing something Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- but we're fine with whatever. Let me know what you want to do. But if we did Friday with Westras and Saturday with Taylors, that would work out.
• Mom: Sounds like Derek would like us all to go out to dinner together Friday night. We could still do cake and ice cream on Sun.
• Jen: Everyone could come over to our house after dinner for cake and ice cream and to sing Happy Birthday the birthday people are there ...
• Mom: Scott and Amy, Friday night Sh & A, D & D, J and G, and we are going out to dinner at 6:30 at Carinos to celebrate Danielle's birthday--our treat. Can you two join us?
• Jen: I haven't run this by my boys yet, but we have had Landon and Callahan tending for us for a while now. If SH&A wanted to come out and leave the girls here, Carinos is only a minute away ...
• Shane: That would work for us if it's okay with your boys. Rella would be in heaven...
• Mom: Scott and Amy said they can make it. We'll see everyone at Carinos in Jordan Landing at 6:30 on Friday, with ice cream and cake at Jen's afterwards. So that will be 10 of us. Jen, you know the place best. Do you want to call and see if they will take reservations for 10 for our little birthday party, so we don't have to wait, or should I do it? Shane arrived home late last night from Oklahoma City. He heads to Austin, Texas next week. We went to Grandma's last night since we are busy Fri. and Sat. again this weekend. Chris and Conner and Cayson are coming for dinner Sat. and to sleep over. 
• Mom: We will go at 6 tonight to get our name on the list, so the rest of you won't have to wait.

Johnny Carinos, yummy Italian food . Unfortunatly, this Jordan Landing location would close down in 2018. We know what Jen had ... chicken alfredo. Even without the picture proof, you should know that ... that's about the only thing on the menu that she will eat. They did have a little gluten-free menu for Scott and Dad.

After the eating, a few families headed to the Blackham home (just a minute away) for some cake ... 

Callahan's 11th birthday.

2009 Calendar Pages and Slideshow

... and the slideshow

2009 Christmas Letter

Look to the PDF to enlarge. 

Father's Day 2009

I think we had everyone + this year. Quite the crew! In addition to all the people, we had TONS of pictures taken. Pretty sure Alicia had a new camera and was experimenting. Jen was into action, taking several photos right in a row, and Wendy was there with her camera.  So in addition to the annual family photo (above) and the outtakes (below) we feature wagon pulling, tramp jumping, swingball and of course, toads! These collages capture most of the activities, but there are more photos in Dropbox.

Some assorted snapshots ...

 The who knew how much fun a simple wagon could be?

 

You can see the swingball set in the background of the photos above. Here's an unobstructed view.

I believe the Blackhams brought this ... I don't know where it is now!

Trampoline time ...

... and toads!

In addition to the big family photo, there was this cute one of Scott's family

... and the Jensens.

... but where is Josh? Oops!