Norma Jean Catherine (Streit) Hake, 88, died Saturday January 16, 2021 at Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, Kansas where she lost the battle to COVID-19.
Norma Jean, or Normie as her friends call her, was born on December 27, 1932 in Tipton, Kansas to Leo H. Streit and Gertrude (Gasper) Streit. She attended elementary school for a time at Holy Corner School, Tipton, then St Boniface Grade School, graduating from Tipton High School in 1950.
On February 9, 1953 she married her high school sweetheart, Arthur Henry Hake, at St Boniface Catholic Church, Tipton.
Norma Jean was an accomplished seamstress and skilled cook. Norma Jean and Arthur loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking and exploring the natural scenic wonders of Kansas and the surrounding states. Many summer weekends were spent camping with family and friends at nearby lakes, and the annual summer camping trip to Colorado was always a highlight for the family. After Arthur’s death in 1998, Norma traveled to Europe and visited Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Norway.
A farm girl at heart, she was an accomplished homemaker, canning much of the produce that came out of their summer garden. She also worked as a bookkeeper for Arthur at Hake Grain Company, Tipton. In later years, she worked as a bookkeeper at the Hake Hardware store, Tipton, and as a secretary and bookkeeper at the Farmway Co-op elevator, Tipton. After Arthur died, she worked in the kitchen at Ringneck Ranch, Tipton.
Above all, Norma Jean was a dedicated mother. She treasured her children and instilled strong values and a love for nature. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. All who loved her will never forget her tenacity, wit, free spirit and special sense of humor.
Norma Jean is survived by her children Lynn and Alisa (Moore) Hake, Dallas, Jolene (Joey) and Chuck Magerl, Lawrence, Kelly and Russ Smith, Orange, California and Shelly and partner Luba Funk, son Leon Funk of Wiesbaden Germany, her four granddaughters, Lauren and Jordan Clark, Huntsville, Alabama, Rachel and Matt Page, Waco, Texas, Amelia Magerl, Lawrence, and Ella (Magerl) and Garrett Hopper, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and her two great-grandsons, Taylor Page and William Clark. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur, her parents, sister Shirley, and brothers Leon, Donald and Edwin. She is survived by her sister Arlene (Streit) and Charles Steichen, Placentia, California.
Norma Jean was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Tipton, and a member of the St. Ann’s Altar Society. In recent years she served on the Board of Directors for the Tipton Heritage Museum.
A Mass at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Tipton, and celebration of Norma Jean’s life will be held at a date yet to be determined. She will be laid to rest in the St. Boniface Church Cemetery next to her beloved Arthur.
The family suggests that charitable donations may be made in her honor to St. Boniface Catholic Church and Tipton Heritage Museum.