Norma Louise Wilkening, the daughter of William C. and Bertha (Alt) Wilkening was born on May 6, 1933, in the rural area of Iroquois county, Illinois known as "Pitchin". She was born on the Wilkening family home farm and was delivered by the same doctor who delivered her father, and in the same house as well. She was baptized on June 7, 1933 in Cissna Park, and on June 8, 1947, she was confirmed in her Christian faith at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN, where she remained a member.
Norma, her sister Nancy, and their parents William & Bertha moved to Minnesota in 1940 from Illinois to farm one of William's father's four farms located in St. James township.
Norma received her education in St. James and graduated from St. James High School in 1951. On June 14, 1952, Norma was united in marriage to Ralph William Chapman at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They made their home in St. James, and later divorced in 1985.
Norma worked as a telephone switchboard operator, as a bookkeeper for Roadways Construction, as office manager for United Telephone, at United Merchantile, and as a sales clerk at Nelson Furniture. Norma also started her own trucking company and named it LSJ Services, (Louise, Sue, & Jason).
She was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, niece, mother and grandmother, a devoted friend to many people and diligently practiced her strong Christian Faith. She enjoyed staying busy with her many friends, and enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, flowers, following the weather, and spending time with her family. Norma supported her family in all their sporting events and was their cheerleader. She also attended many baseball games with her family.
Norma will be remembered by her friends and family in many ways, some of which include; being a true-blue friend through thick and thin, having a strong work ethic and believed in doing the very best job with whatever task was at hand, able to set her mind on a task and accomplishing it under almost any circumstance, she had a driving force when focused, unfailing love for her friends and family, and life-long dedication and service to her congregation at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN.
Norma was known as an excellent cook and baker. Norma had a fantastic skill for managing money and was well organized. She had a good outlook on life and manifested positivity naturally. She assisted looking after her parents as they grew older and cared for her mother Bertha as she approached 94 years of age. Norma was an important link to many people both inside and outside her family.
Norma Chapman passed away Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at the age of 73 in St. James, MN after a courageous three year battle with uterine cancer. It was her strict choice to keep her illness private as she did not want to worry anyone outside her most immediate family circle.
Norma is survived by her son, Jason Chapman of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter, Sue and her husband LaMar Piper of St. James; four grandsons, Matthew, David, James and Zachary Piper; a sister, Nancy Nelson of Zimmerman, MN; five nieces and nephews, Jeff and his wife Linda Nelson, Natalie and her husband Jerry Osberg, Michael Nelson, Mark Nelson, and Joel and his wife Barbara Nelson; special friends, LaDonna Quick, Lorraine Behlmer, and Myrna Eppeland all of St. James; many other relatives and
friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Norma, her sister Nancy, and their parents William & Bertha moved to Minnesota in 1940 from Illinois to farm one of William's father's four farms located in St. James township.
Norma received her education in St. James and graduated from St. James High School in 1951. On June 14, 1952, Norma was united in marriage to Ralph William Chapman at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They made their home in St. James, and later divorced in 1985.
Norma worked as a telephone switchboard operator, as a bookkeeper for Roadways Construction, as office manager for United Telephone, at United Merchantile, and as a sales clerk at Nelson Furniture. Norma also started her own trucking company and named it LSJ Services, (Louise, Sue, & Jason).
She was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, niece, mother and grandmother, a devoted friend to many people and diligently practiced her strong Christian Faith. She enjoyed staying busy with her many friends, and enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, flowers, following the weather, and spending time with her family. Norma supported her family in all their sporting events and was their cheerleader. She also attended many baseball games with her family.
Norma will be remembered by her friends and family in many ways, some of which include; being a true-blue friend through thick and thin, having a strong work ethic and believed in doing the very best job with whatever task was at hand, able to set her mind on a task and accomplishing it under almost any circumstance, she had a driving force when focused, unfailing love for her friends and family, and life-long dedication and service to her congregation at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN.
Norma was known as an excellent cook and baker. Norma had a fantastic skill for managing money and was well organized. She had a good outlook on life and manifested positivity naturally. She assisted looking after her parents as they grew older and cared for her mother Bertha as she approached 94 years of age. Norma was an important link to many people both inside and outside her family.
Norma Chapman passed away Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at the age of 73 in St. James, MN after a courageous three year battle with uterine cancer. It was her strict choice to keep her illness private as she did not want to worry anyone outside her most immediate family circle.
Norma is survived by her son, Jason Chapman of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter, Sue and her husband LaMar Piper of St. James; four grandsons, Matthew, David, James and Zachary Piper; a sister, Nancy Nelson of Zimmerman, MN; five nieces and nephews, Jeff and his wife Linda Nelson, Natalie and her husband Jerry Osberg, Michael Nelson, Mark Nelson, and Joel and his wife Barbara Nelson; special friends, LaDonna Quick, Lorraine Behlmer, and Myrna Eppeland all of St. James; many other relatives and
friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Norma Louise Wilkening, the daughter of William C. and Bertha (Alt) Wilkening was born on May 6, 1933, in the rural area of Iroquois county, Illinois known as "Pitchin". She was born on the Wilkening family home farm and was delivered by the same doctor who delivered her father, and in the same house as well. She was baptized on June 7, 1933 in Cissna Park, and on June 8, 1947, she was confirmed in her Christian faith at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN, where she remained a member.
Norma, her sister Nancy, and their parents William & Bertha moved to Minnesota in 1940 from Illinois to farm one of William's father's four farms located in St. James township.
Norma received her education in St. James and graduated from St. James High School in 1951. On June 14, 1952, Norma was united in marriage to Ralph William Chapman at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They made their home in St. James, and later divorced in 1985.
Norma worked as a telephone switchboard operator, as a bookkeeper for Roadways Construction, as office manager for United Telephone, at United Merchantile, and as a sales clerk at Nelson Furniture. Norma also started her own trucking company and named it LSJ Services, (Louise, Sue, & Jason).
She was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, niece, mother and grandmother, a devoted friend to many people and diligently practiced her strong Christian Faith. She enjoyed staying busy with her many friends, and enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, flowers, following the weather, and spending time with her family. Norma supported her family in all their sporting events and was their cheerleader. She also attended many baseball games with her family.
Norma will be remembered by her friends and family in many ways, some of which include; being a true-blue friend through thick and thin, having a strong work ethic and believed in doing the very best job with whatever task was at hand, able to set her mind on a task and accomplishing it under almost any circumstance, she had a driving force when focused, unfailing love for her friends and family, and life-long dedication and service to her congregation at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN.
Norma was known as an excellent cook and baker. Norma had a fantastic skill for managing money and was well organized. She had a good outlook on life and manifested positivity naturally. She assisted looking after her parents as they grew older and cared for her mother Bertha as she approached 94 years of age. Norma was an important link to many people both inside and outside her family.
Norma Chapman passed away Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at the age of 73 in St. James, MN after a courageous three year battle with uterine cancer. It was her strict choice to keep her illness private as she did not want to worry anyone outside her most immediate family circle.
Norma is survived by her son, Jason Chapman of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter, Sue and her husband LaMar Piper of St. James; four grandsons, Matthew, David, James and Zachary Piper; a sister, Nancy Nelson of Zimmerman, MN; five nieces and nephews, Jeff and his wife Linda Nelson, Natalie and her husband Jerry Osberg, Michael Nelson, Mark Nelson, and Joel and his wife Barbara Nelson; special friends, LaDonna Quick, Lorraine Behlmer, and Myrna Eppeland all of St. James; many other relatives and
friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Norma, her sister Nancy, and their parents William & Bertha moved to Minnesota in 1940 from Illinois to farm one of William's father's four farms located in St. James township.
Norma received her education in St. James and graduated from St. James High School in 1951. On June 14, 1952, Norma was united in marriage to Ralph William Chapman at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They made their home in St. James, and later divorced in 1985.
Norma worked as a telephone switchboard operator, as a bookkeeper for Roadways Construction, as office manager for United Telephone, at United Merchantile, and as a sales clerk at Nelson Furniture. Norma also started her own trucking company and named it LSJ Services, (Louise, Sue, & Jason).
She was a wonderful and loving daughter, sister, niece, mother and grandmother, a devoted friend to many people and diligently practiced her strong Christian Faith. She enjoyed staying busy with her many friends, and enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, flowers, following the weather, and spending time with her family. Norma supported her family in all their sporting events and was their cheerleader. She also attended many baseball games with her family.
Norma will be remembered by her friends and family in many ways, some of which include; being a true-blue friend through thick and thin, having a strong work ethic and believed in doing the very best job with whatever task was at hand, able to set her mind on a task and accomplishing it under almost any circumstance, she had a driving force when focused, unfailing love for her friends and family, and life-long dedication and service to her congregation at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James, MN.
Norma was known as an excellent cook and baker. Norma had a fantastic skill for managing money and was well organized. She had a good outlook on life and manifested positivity naturally. She assisted looking after her parents as they grew older and cared for her mother Bertha as she approached 94 years of age. Norma was an important link to many people both inside and outside her family.
Norma Chapman passed away Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at the age of 73 in St. James, MN after a courageous three year battle with uterine cancer. It was her strict choice to keep her illness private as she did not want to worry anyone outside her most immediate family circle.
Norma is survived by her son, Jason Chapman of Minneapolis, MN; her daughter, Sue and her husband LaMar Piper of St. James; four grandsons, Matthew, David, James and Zachary Piper; a sister, Nancy Nelson of Zimmerman, MN; five nieces and nephews, Jeff and his wife Linda Nelson, Natalie and her husband Jerry Osberg, Michael Nelson, Mark Nelson, and Joel and his wife Barbara Nelson; special friends, LaDonna Quick, Lorraine Behlmer, and Myrna Eppeland all of St. James; many other relatives and
friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
