Norman Shalla

A Celebration of Life for Norman D. Shalla, 91, of Kalona, will be held Monday, April 30, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church in Riverside, with Pastor Ed Peterson officiating. Burial will follow at the Riverside Public Cemetery. Following the interment, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 29 from 3 – 6 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona, and one hour before the service at the church. A general memorial fund has been established. Norman Shalla passed away on Monday, April 23, 2018 in the same room of the home he was born in.

Norman D. Shalla was born on August 8, 1926 at the family home in rural Kalona, the son of George E. and Anna (Tellin) Shalla. Norman was united in marriage to Marie A. Swailes at Trinity United Methodist Church in Riverside, Iowa on June 5, 1948. Norman attended Egypt country school through eighth grade. Rather than going to high school he helped his dad with the farm. He was drafted in 1946 and was inducted in the US. Army at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Norman was a World War II Veteran serving as a corporal in the US Army. He was stationed state side and returned home in August 1947. Norman farmed most of his life, After retiring from farming, he worked at Ron's Feed Store in Riverside from 1994 to 1998. He served as director for Smothers Insurance in Lone Tree for 26 years. Through the years Norman enjoyed playing softball, horsehoes, bowling, attending dances at the Hiland Palace and anywhere that played his kind of music, listening to polka music, watching baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and his dog Toby. He looked forward to the Shalla Family Reunion every August to reunite with family from near and far. Norman always had a story to tell about the good old days and enjoyed talking to just about anyone. Norman was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Am-Vets Post 107 in Richmond and the American Legion Post 457 in Lone Tree.

Left with wonderful memories are his wife of 69 years, Marie of Kalona; children: Donald (Linda) Shalla of Riverside, Helen (Lowell) Baker of Lone Tree, Darlene Shalla (friend Bill Neal) of Iowa City, and Janice (Kenny) Riggan of Riverside. The eleven grandchildren include: Randy (Jenny) Shalla of Lone Tree, Amy Shalla (fiance Darrin) of Lisbon, Kelly (Tim) Grout of Kalona, Lucas (Jennifer) Baker of Prescott, AZ, Rachel (Eric) Smithmier of Cypress, TX., Ben (Sarah) Harding of Eden Prairie, MN., Stacy (Jim) Driscoll of Bettendorf, Michael (Deanna) Harding of Lancaster, WI., Kari (Joel) Pendergrass of Mt. Vernon, Jessica (Matt) Luther of Chapin, SC., Jill (Jon) Pippert of North Liberty. The 29 great-grandchildren are Zachary, Casey, and Trey Shalla, TJ, Ryan and Natalie Schott, Spencer, Abigail, Tyson, Kennedy and Garrett Grout, Dustyn and Maximilian Baker, Ella Rose, Tyler and Jack Smithmier, Grayson and Weston Harding, Charlotte and Sam Barnes, Logan and Lucas Harding, Kayden and Jayce Pendergrass, Brady and Blake Luther, Jade, Josslyn and Jensen Pippert. Norm is survived by his brother Wayne (Lou Ann) Shalla and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding Norman in death were his parents, a brother Marlin Shalla and a great-grand daughter Kiefer Grout.