Norma Jeanne Jenison

Norma Jeanne Jenison, age 94, of Belmond passed away Sunday, August 28, 2016 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Funeral service was held on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond with Pastor Dawn Pederson officiating. Burial took place in the Belmond Cemetery.

Norma Jeanne (Packard) Jenison (given name Nora Jean) was born to Edwin Chester 'Ned' Packard and Julia (Nelson) Packard on May 12, 1922 in Belmond.

She graduated from Belmond High School in 1940, and was united in marriage to Leland Jenison on June 11, 1942 in Waukegan, IL. While Leland served in the U.S. Navy, Norma Jeanne held various civilian jobs with the Navy. She was a chauffeur in Jacksonville, FL where she once was assigned to drive Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox. Norma Jeanne received a letter of commendation for her outstanding performance in transporting materials and personnel during a hurricane in Jacksonville in October 1944.

After discharge from the Navy, they returned to Belmond for several years before moving to Ames where Leland was a student at Iowa State and Norma Jeanne worked as a secretary in the Economics Department.

Norma Jeanne provided business support for the 40 years her husband practiced as an electrical and mechanical consulting engineer. She managed payroll, handled accounting/financial/tax aspects of the business and was always on call to deliver a set of plans to their destination.

On November 11, 1961, Norma Jeanne accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and acknowledged this as a major turning point in her life. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and taught Sunday school for many years, enjoyed weekly Bible Study and served on the Evangelism committee. She was a charter and lifetime member of Belmond  Hospital Auxiliary, was a den mother of Cub Scouts and a Campfire leader when her children were young.

Norma Jeanne's husband, children, and their spouses, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, exteneded family and friends were all beneficiares of her loving and kindness. She was a great friend and had an innate ability of speaking words of encouragement into the lives of people she met. The door to her home was always open to guests and there were usually homemade cinnamon rolls, a pan of brownies or kringla just out of the oven.

She is preceded in death by her husband Leland Jenison, parents, brother R.G. 'Bud' Packard and sisters Phyllis Pals and Leila Jacobson.

She is survived by sons William (Darlene) Jenison of Lakeville, MN, Timothy (Leslie) Jenison of San Antonio, TX, and daughter Starr (John) Benjamin of Clear Lake; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Rev. Arvild Jacobson of Sun City, AZ; sister-in-law Elna (Gary) Day of Ventura; and many nieces and nephews.