Norma Frances (Grams) Kroese was born August 19, 1928 at Campbell, Nebraska in the rural home of her parents, Ruth (Feis) Grams and Albert Grams, the 6th born child of 4 boys and 5 girls, eight living to age of majority. Norma attended rural school district #48 in Webster County, Nebraska grades 1-8 and graduated from Campbell High School in Franklin County, Nebraska as the class Salutatorian representing 21 graduating seniors in the class of 1947.
Norma was a self-taught seamstress at a very young age and an excellent typist as an adult. She constructed her own garments most of her young life, including a tailored suit even before she had to sit and baste a hem in a tea towel as a freshman in Home Economics class. Much later in life she sought professional instruction in tailoring for both men and women. She also taught Lingerie Classes for Lancaster County. Extension. She designed and constructed her own wedding dress as well as several others for friends. She also constructed draperies for Montgomery Ward, Griffith Draperies and Van Dervoort Decorators professionally in the 1950’s.
At age eleven, during an extended hospital stay, she clothed the dolls of each of the 13 girls in her hospital ward with hand-sewn dresses including ruffled bonnets. She led bedtime prayers and also used bedtime each night for a lullaby to the 13 hospital ward males, the songs she learned in Sunday School in the Presbyterian Church in Campbell, Nebraska as well as many other songs of that era which she had learned at home. She led bedtime prayers in spite of repeated orthopedic surgeries. As a child she became fascinated with the medical profession. Following a brief employment after graduation with S.S. Kresge Co. she was hired a receptionist for the late Drs. Angle and Laverne Pfeifer, Urologists in the 1950’s. She saw a greater pay scale at Elgin National Watch Factory and after 3 years and it’s closing, Norma returned to her original job at Dr. Angle’s office as a Medical Receptionist and Medical Transcriptionist.
Following her return to Dr. Angle’s office, she met Garrit Kroess on a blind date after he returned from serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. They were married March 22, 1957. Norma continued as a Medical Transcriptionist in Urology for a total of 15 years until a very fragile pregnancy kept her at bed rest the entire waiting period. On March 31, 1965 Todd Garrit Kroese made his debut. He was their pride and joy! Norma never returned to work at Dr. Angle’s office although her job was being held for her return at Urology P.C. Todd actively participated in Garrit’s established family partnership in farming and active pork production. Todd was a recognized soloist at Pell early in youth on Mother’s Day. Todd became a leader of music at Norris in Norris School Music. He was an honor graduate in 1983 and went on to U.N.L.
On July 4, 1978 Garritt died very suddenly of an inoperable, Grade IV diffuse coronary artery disease at age 51. Todd was 13 years. Norma and Todd enrolled in the “Feminine Farrowing School” at U.N.L. to assists Todd in continuing with the family pork production his father had managed. Norma also returned to her medical career as an experienced medical transcriptionist, limiting it to P.R.N. until Todd’s graduation from Norris High School in 1983. She was employed by the Lincoln Clinic, Dr. John Deck, Southeast Family Practice , and a longer tenure at Lincoln Medical Education Foundation, Family Practice Residency Program , Family Practice Group and Bryan Memorial Hospital Radiology. Norma also worked at Lakeview Rest Home in Firth as the Medical Records Coordinator.
Norma was a past member of the Epsilon Signa Alpha Business Girls Sorority and National Association of Medical Transcriptionists. She also served on the Lancaster County Extension Council. Norma made a confession of her faith by age 10 at a Presbyterian Church in Campbell and this commitment was followed by public confession of faith in the Presbyterian Church in Campbell. Norma felt the greatest inheritance a parent can leave to their children is the heritage of Christian Faith. She walked in faith in faithfulness to God, husband Garrit and son Todd. Norma was a current member of the Pella Reformed Church and served many ears a a choir member and Sunday School teacher. She has held office in all three levels of the Reformed Church Women and was a current member of the Ladies Aid organization and now know as Pella Women’s Ministries, a past member of the Adams Community Extension Club and was currently a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She also served as a volunteer for Southeast Nebraska Youth for Christ/Campus Life.
Norma has been referred to as a lady of many talents. A born leader, seamstress, writer, typist and decorator. She loved to cook to please Garrit and Todd and other guests. You may remember her infamous Waldorf Astoria red cake. She was and excellent speller and an accomplished typist in both speed and accuracy in medical terminology and she was a self taught Medical Transcriptionist for nearly 50 years. She also wrote many poems and composed articles for personal use. Norma had strong spiritual convictions, she was strong-minded in what she firmly believed and yet supported other causes quietly without attention. She also firmly battled or disputed what was contrary to her spiritual convictions. She was warm and genuine. She would rather be hated for what and who she really was then be loved for what the was not.
Norma was preceded in death by an infant stillborn sister in 1934, her husband Garrit in 1978, her mother in 1982, her father in 1983, two stillborn children in 1959 and 1966, her son Todd in 1990 at age 24 when a Burlington-Northern train claimed his young life, 3 brothers and 4 sisters. She is survived by her brother Orlan Grams of Minden, NE and many nieces and nephews.
Because of a commitment to Christ in their earlier life, Garrit, Norma and Todd and two miscarriages and a personal relationship with God, the family of Garrit and Norma Kroese is now complete in Heaven….. Thank you, Lord.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Pella Reformed Church, 16101 Pella Road #7776, Adams, NE. Burial will be in the Pella Cemetery. Condolences may be left at trumpmemorials.com. Trump Funeral Services, 1600 West “O” Street, Lincoln. The church will be live-streaming the services through their YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@pellachurch6113?si=bKyhY9MTON5D2etH, it will be under the “live” key.