Norma Birnbaum

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 29, 2024, at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Gunderson Funeral Chapel with interment to follow at the Otho Cemetery.

Norma Jean House, the daughter of Gerald and Marian (Potts) House, was born April 27, 1936, in Boone, Iowa. Norma graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1954. She was married to Robert “Bob” Everett and the couple had two children, Laura and Doug. Bob preceded Norma in death in 1974. On June 5, 1981, Norma married Edwin Birnbaum, and became stepmom to his children Chris, Faith and Ed.

Norma was known for her baking, wedding and birthday cakes, and worked at the Community Apple Orchard, where her apple pie recipe is still used to this day. She also worked as a secretary for New Coop for 16 years. Norma loved to shop and was known for all her bargain finds. Hosting Fourth of July celebrations at their home were one of her favorite times of the year. The couple spent 20 winters in South Texas and she was known as the “5 a.m. puzzle lady.”

Survivors include her husband Ed Birnbaum, her children Laura (Mike) Gurnett, Doug Everett, Chris (Janell) Birnbaum, Faith (Chris) Williams and Ed (Susie) Birnbaum, 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

She was welcomed into heaven by her first husband Bob, her parents, her brother Jerry “Butch” House, sister Shirley Loehr, and her granddaughter Danielle Gurnett.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.