Norma Louise Gangestad

Mrs. Norma L. Gangestad, age 95, of Atlantic, IA, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, at Heritage House in Atlantic, IA.

Norma was born on March 12, 1928, the daughter of Roy and Martha (Berhow) Chelesvig on the farm near Huxley, Iowa. She was raised on a farm in Eagle Grove, Iowa, and graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1946.

On June 20, 1948, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Henry Gangestad in East Side Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove. They made their home in Eagle Grove, and she worked for the telephone company. Norma and Kenny were blessed with 4 children: Bruce, Colleen, Diane & Alan. Over the years, they lived in Tama, Carroll, Sac City, and Atlantic.

She had many gifts and talents that she shared with everyone, including cooking, baking, knitting, painting, ceramics, sewing, her Norwegian cooking, and raising her children. Norma was very involved in her children’s activities, supporting them as a Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout leader, Band Mom, and initiator of the “Band Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser.

Norma and Kenny enjoyed spending time with friends, playing cards, sitting in the yard, and visiting with neighbors. Later in life, they enjoyed traveling, even to Norway and on a couple of cruises.

Norma is survived by her four children, Bruce (Mary) Gangestad of Marion, IA, Colleen Gangestad of Creston, IA, Diane (Duane) Eilts of Massena, IA, and Alan (Terri) Gangestad of Valley, NE; sister, Ruth Helmick of Prairie Village, KS, brother Tom Chelesvig of Webster City, IA and Jim (Caye) Chelesvig of Belmond, IA, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Martha (Berhow) Chelesvig, husband Kenneth, brothers Maurice, Charles, and Joseph, and sister Julie, grandchildren Adam Gangestad and Anna Oberhauser

Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA.

The funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with Rev. Lauri Boysen officiating the service. Interment will follow the funeral at the Atlantic Cemetery. A luncheon will be held following the committal service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Norma Gangestad Family. They will be designed for many of her favorite organizations and charities and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.