Norma Janet Noack

Norma Janet Noack, 97, of Tecumseh, passed away Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 at Cambrian Senior Living. She was born August 14, 1922 in Delphos, Ohio to Clyde and Marie (Bodkin) Heasley. 

Norma moved to Saginaw, Mich. with her family when her father was employed in the auto industry. She was the middle child of five children.  As a child, she loved gymnastics, took tap dance lessons and played clarinet in the Arthur Hill High School band. While growing up, Norma worked at the Marr movie theater part time, as well as A & W as a carhop. She also fondly recalled her first job when she and her sister would sell donuts, which they bought from a local bakery, door to door in the neighborhood out of a red wagon.  

It was at Doyle Freight lines where she worked in the office that she met her future husband to whom she was married for 64 years. Norma also worked as a teacher’s aide for the Saginaw Public Schools’ Millet Learning Center after her own children were raised. She loved helping the children there who had special needs. Norma was also a foster parent, caring for newborns at home until a permanent family could be found for these infants.  

Norma moved to Traverse City after retirement with her husband to Bass Lake, where they spent many good years with visiting family members, especially the grandchildren who enjoyed fishing, swimming and boating with them as they grew up. Together, they also enjoyed trips to Missouri to visit relatives for their family vacations each summer, traveled north to Canada for fishing at outpost lakes, and trips west to Las Vegas.

Moving to Tecumseh in 2010 after her husband’s death, Norma enjoyed the company and friends at her condo community, walking, dining out and always looked forward to the next Ollie’s bus trip to the next destination. Special friends Nadine and Pat welcomed her to town and made her feel at home in her new environment.    

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Frank, in 2009.  Siblings Ruth (John) Raddatz, Marguerite (Don) Kirchner, Jean (Eugene) Metzger, and Richard (Ruth) Heasley also preceded her. She is survived by sons David (Diane) Noack and Tom (Carolyn) Noack.  Grandchildren Ben (Helen) Noack, Laura (Josh) Baker, Christine (Greg Mikesell) Noack, and Victoria (Keegan) White, and great-grandson, Noah White, many nieces and nephews.  

Special gratitude for her care to the staff at Cambrian, who helped her live life to the fullest while a resident there, and Hospice of Lenawee who assisted Norma and her family in her final days.  

Visitation for Norma will be on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 5–7 p.m. at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday with Pastor Mark Miller officiating with visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Private burial will be in Chapel Hill Mausoleum and Cemetery in Freeland, Mich. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee, Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family at handlerfuneralhomes.com.