Norma Jean Streck passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12, 2025 in her sleep, at the age of 97 years old.
She was born on the family farm in Ogallah, Kansas, on March 22, 1927, to Joseph and Maria “Mary” Kelsch. Norma was the oldest daughter of three children. She was a tiny baby and with no incubator, she started life in her dad’s shoe box on the oven door, learning to be a strong and determined child. She attended schools in Ellis, Kansas when her family moved off the farm. After graduating from High School, she left to go to Washington D.C. to work at the Pentagon for the Navy. Back in Kansas, she attended a dance at Walker Air Force Base, and there she met John J Streck, whom she married on August 15, 1948. John entered the Army, and soon Norma and their daughter Stephanie went to live in Japan toward the end of the Korean War; then moving back to Kansas, where they settled down in Hays and lived for 69 years.
Norma worked side-by-side with John in his dental practice for many years. She loved her volunteer work at the hospital and the church. And was a member of several community organizations, including PEO of which she was a Golden Girl for 50 years of participation. John and Norma loved traveling all over the United States. Norma loved gardening and bird watching.
Norma and John had four daughters, Stephanie Streck Watson (who preceded her in death); Carla Streck Perez and her husband Jim, who Norma lived with her last 8 years of her life, in Texas; Susan Moss, Connecticut; and Lisa Dunn, Texas. She has ten grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Brenda Rodger officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 pm in Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Monday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Hays State University Music Department, HaysMed Volunteers, or flowers and plants are a beautiful gift as well. Condolences and memories of Norma may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com