Norman George Eiben

Norman George Eiben, the son of John Edwin and Gertrude (Knoells) Eiben, was born May 11, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska and died July 22, 2020, at the Reston Hospital Center in Reston, Virginia at the age of 81 years, 2 months, and 11 days.

Norman was baptized and confirmed at the First Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended the Viola School, graduating with the Class of 1957, the last class to graduate from the Viola High School. When in high school, Norman was a member of the Army National Guard during his junior and senior years, and in August of 1957, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and completed his basic training in San Diego, California. From there he was transferred to the Naval Air Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma and completed Aviation Fundamentals, followed by Aviation Apprentice Training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis Tennessee.

Norman hitchhiked from Memphis, Tennessee to Iowa, and on April 21, 1958, he married the girl of his dreams he had known since age 7, Mary Ellen Olson, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Over the years, they were blessed with five children: Kevon, Kenneth, Karla, Kurtis, and Kristopher. Following the wedding, Norman hitchhiked back to Memphis and his Naval career progressed through Fleet Air Logistics Squadron 22 and Patrol Squadron 49 before he became an instructor at the Naval Air Technical Training Center. Following a promotion in June of 1968, Norman served three tours of duty in the Tonkin Gulf in Vietnam and was assigned to Attack Squadron 164 aboard the U.S.S. Hancock. He was in charge of a team of aviator mechanics that kept the airplanes flying. In June of 1970, he was commissioned a Chief Warrant Officer and was assigned to Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Test and Evaluation Squadron 1. Norman was stationed in Omaha, Nebraska, where he studied and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Once again, he was promoted to a Lieutenant. He received his Master’s in Business Administration while stationed in Florida. Norman had a fleet tour aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany and was in charge of the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 16, LAMPS MK III Fleet Introduction Team, and Naval Air Station in Atsugi, Japan. He served two tours at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Headquarters (AIR-417 and AIR-411) where he initiated new programs and new technologies which included reviews on the Navy Tactical Fighter and later served as NAVAIR’s Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Program Manager. Norman retired from serving his country on September 1, 1993. Throughout his career he worked on many highly sensitive projects and developed the budgets necessary to complete them. He then worked as a government contractor until he permanently retired in 2002.

During his retirement, he returned to his farming roots and grew row crops and planted various fruit trees in his back yard. Throughout his life and into retirement, Norman and Mary enjoyed traveling across the country on memorable trips, starting with their ’62 Volkswagen Beetle, rag top, manual shift, steering wheel on the right side, packed with six people plus suitcases stacked as high as he could get them. As the family got bigger, so did the cars. They always enjoyed their annual trip to Iowa for their family reunions. Norman also enjoyed watching sports and westerns on TV and reading novels. But most important to him was his family.

Preceding him in death were his son, Kenneth Eiben; his parents; his brother and sisters: Dwain and wife Penny Eiben, Alberta and husband Willard Lyons, Thelma and husband Bob Anderson, and Jeanette and husband Bill Haskins; and his brother-in-law, Darrell Johnson.

Survivors include his wife of more than 62 years Mary Eiben of Herndon, Virginia; his children: Kevon and wife Vanessa Eiben of Reston, Virginia; Karla and husband Barry Crocker of Patuxent, Maryland; Kurtis and wife Megan Eiben of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Kristopher and wife Jenny Eiben of Aylett, Virginia; his 10 grandchildren: Phillip Eiben, Kaley Eiben, Brent Eiben, Krystal Eiben, Kristen Skalicky, Brittany Taylor, Tiffany Matthews, Jackson Eiben, Olliver Eiben, and Nicholas Eiben; his 7 great-grandchildren: Kalyn Eiben, Evan Capets, Leah Eiben, Drew Skalicky, Piper Skalicky, Easton Taylor, and Ryker Taylor; his brothers and sisters: Ardel and wife Ruth Eiben of Atlantic, Iowa; Shirley Johnson of Algona, Iowa; Lyle and wife Darline Eiben of Lowell, Massachusetts; and Jerry and wife Linda Eiben of Dubuque, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Catharine and husband Gary Hobbs of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; Margie Deist of Audubon; Lynette and husband Gary Nichols of Dallas Center, Iowa; Joyce and husband John Jenkins of Exira, Iowa; Rita and husband Robert Mowen of Denver, North Carolina; Robbyn and wife Diane Olson of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Ronald Olson of Casey, Iowa; Rebecca and husband Neil Naberhaus of Scranton, Iowa; and Sharlette Weighton of Audubon; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening, July 29, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis on Thursday morning, July 30, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Kevon Eiben, Kurtis Eiben, Kristopher Eiben, Vanessa Eiben, Phillip Eiben, Brent Eiben, Krystal Eiben, and Jack Eiben.

***** The family requests that masks be worn when attending both the visitation and the funeral service. *****






The family has requested to livestream Norman's funeral service on our Facebook page at KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. The broadcast will begin a few minutes prior to the service.

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