Norma Koertje Obituary

Memorial services for Norma Koertje, age 88, of Bloomfield, Nebraska will be at 3:00 p.m. July 20, 2019, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bloomfield. Reverend Terry Krueger will officiate.

Brockhaus Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.

Norma died Thursday, July 4, 2019, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska. She has donated her body to scientific research.

Norma (Grimm) Koertje was born on September 11, 1930, on a farm north of Bloomfield, the daughter of Ernest and Clara (Schuett) Grimm. She was baptized on March 1, 1931, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bloomfield. Norma attended grade school in the country at District 98. She was confirmed on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1945, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Norma graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1948, with a certificate to teach country school for three years.

Norma married her high school sweetheart, Harlan Koertje, on February 19, 1950, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. They were blessed to share 66 years together. Six children were born to this union.

They farmed, raised hogs, and milked cows for 43 years. Evenings would find them playing cards, bowling, or dancing. Time was spent at 4-H and church activities where Norma held many different offices, including the NE Women’s Synod board for five years. Norma and Harlan were EMT’s for ten years. Norma was a Red Cross blood donor and was their Bloodmobile Coordinator for 25 years. She worked for 20 years at the library, and it was during that time that she had the joy of seeing the new library building become a reality. She and Harlan traveled to Europe twice, saw all the states, and took two cruises. For many years, they enjoyed the coffee groups and trips to casinos. Norma loved flowers, gardening, and celebrations.

Survivors include her six children, William (Julie) Koertje of Lincoln, Robert (Deb) Koertje of Bloomfield, Sharon (Arnold) Doerr, Jr. of Bloomfield, Sara (Greg) Baumann of Pierce, Nancy (Paul) Jensen of Exeter, and David (Mary) Koertje of Omaha; ten grandsons, Patrick and Mark Koertje, Jason Toennis, Aarik, Seth and Drew Jensen, Phillip Doerr, Blake Baumann, and Zachary and Myles Koertje; ten granddaughters, Lori Schlimgen, Jessica Hoffman, Allison Koertje, Kimberly Woods, Angela Bates, Brooke Ahlman, Kayla Bartmann, Autumn Baumann, Sage Jensen, and Liana Koertje; 35 great-grandchildren; brother, Wilbur (Olivia) Grimm; sister, Larina (Roger) Carpenter; and in-laws, Ruth Ann Grimm, Shirley Koertje, Helen Mays, and Loyal (Mary) Koertje.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan in 2016; parents, Ernest and Clara Grimm; brother, Leon Grimm; great-grandson, Caleb Clifton; and in-laws, Arnold (Viola) Koertje, Mildred (Duane) Nelson, Delbert Koertje, Lila (Wilbert) Hansen, Glenn Mays, and Lenarda Grimm.
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In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of your favorite charity.