Norma Jerene Gavin

Norma Jerene (Yusten) Gavin, 81 of Sioux City passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at the Mercy Medical Center. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Very Reverend Armand J. Bertrand as Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Silver Ridge Cemetery in rural Ponca, Nebraska with Father David Liewer leading prayers. Visitation will be on Friday, March 15th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel with family present at 6:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com Norma was born on September 9, 1931 near Martinsburg, Nebraska to William and Elsie May (Heidy) Yusten. She attended rural elementary school in Dixon County, Nebraska. Norma graduated from Ponca High School with the Class of 1948. She attended Wayne State, graduating in August of 1952 with a teaching degree. Norma taught elementary grades in Dixon and Cedar Counties in Nebraska and Columbus, Nebraska before teaching in the Sioux City Public School system. Norma married Leonard L. Gavin in Sioux City on September 11, 1965. Norma sang in the Immaculate Conception Resurrection and Adult Choirs for many years. She was a member of the Woodbury County Genealogical Society, Siouxland Senior Center, and the Dixon County Historical Society of Allen, Nebraska. Norma loved flowers, sewing, baking, knitting, and crocheting. Norma was a cancer survivor since 1989. She and Leonard cared for Norma's elderly mother before her death at 94 years in 1983. Norma is survived by her brother Robert (Joyce) Yusten of Dakota City; sister Stella Rose (Ernest) Navrkal of Sioux City; nieces and nephews Gary Tanderup, Arthur Tanderup, Grace Kellogg, Alyce Settlemeyer, Richard Tanderup, Julianna Rose, Janette Queen, Don Yusten, Jr., Kathy Dunlap, David Yusten, Vincent Yusten, Diane Evans, Iris Dutton, Carol Watchorn, Larry Watchorn, Sandy Finseth, Pamela McGill, Linda Glisar, Mike Shanahan, Karen Stultz, Joe Shanahan, Tom Shanahan, Brian Yusten, Mary Wilson, Judy Blunk, Mark Yusten, Bob Navrkal, Jim Navrkal, Barb Culliton, and many additional great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leonard in 2009, brother Donald Yusten, three sisters Mary Tanderup, Enid Shanahan, and Elaine Watchorn, three nieces Irene Watchorn Lowe, Beverly Navrkal McClain, and Cynthia Watchorn, and two nephews Daniel Yusten, and Pat Shanahan.