Norma Jean McGrew

Norma Jean McGrew was born on December 19, 1934 to Elmer and Henrietta Friedrichsen. She grew up on a farm with her brother and sister. Norma married Don Melvin McGrew “Danny” in the mid 50’s and they moved to San Francisco where Vicky and Mark were born. They soon returned to Iowa and settled in West Des Moines. Tami was born in 1967, and in 1968, Norma lost Danny in a tragic accident. She never married or dated after that. She did a wonderful job raising the three children all by herself. She lost her youngest daughter, Tami to sepsis nearly a year ago and started a downhill slide as she could never get past that loss.

Norma was an avid Bingo player for years and years. If she wasn’t playing Bingo you could find her under a shade tree watching her beloved swans at the cemetery.

Norma was a profound lover of all animals and her heart knew no boundaries. She instilled this in her children and everyone she met. Norma loved both cats and dogs as well as rabbit, squirrels, squinnies, ducks, and swans. At one time she thought she couldn't live without an otter. He could live in the bathtub, couldn't he? Or a llama in the backyard. When it came to animals she had a total lack of control, but that just endeared her to everyone she met. She had the biggest heart in the world and all the lives she touched felt this. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Rest in Peace. You deserve it.

Norma is survived by children, Vicky (Gary) Formaro and Mark (Cindy) McGrew, brother, Larry (Betty) Friedrichsen, grandsons, Thomas (Emily) and Kevin Barr, and step-grandchildren, Brandy, Erin and Scott, a host of great grandchildren that she dearly loved, and her dog Jazzie, who found a wonderful new home when she couldn’t care for her. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Tami, husband, Danny, sister, Darlene, and her parents.