Carlene Norris

Carlene Helen (Johnson) Norris was born to Carl and Helen (Borg) Johnson on November 30, 1932, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at home, surrounded by her loving family. 

Carlene grew up in the Snusville neighborhood of Des Moines, where many Scandinavian immigrants had settled. Her father, Carl Johnson, founded the Capital Machine and Tool Company three blocks west of the Iowa State Capitol on Locust Street. Carlene graduated from East High School, class of 1950. 

Following graduation, Carlene attended the University of Tulsa. On November 3, 1951, Carlene married David Norris, her high school sweetheart (they met as neighbors when they were 12 and 14), at Union Park Methodist Church in Des Moines. Three months later, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the Army. She was able to follow David when he was stationed in multiple locations in Kansas, Virginia and Texas. 

In 1954, they moved to Ames, Iowa, where David attended Iowa State College (now University). They enjoyed their years living in Pammel Court, married student housing, where they made lifelong friends and enjoyed Bible studies with other young married couples. After David’s graduation in 1957, David and Carlene stayed in Ames and together they founded Ames Real Estate and Insurance Center, located at 6th and Grand. God blessed them with three daughters - Susan, Sharon and Sara. They were active members of Campus Baptist Church in Ames for 43 years, Berean Baptist Church in Boone for 25 years, and  currently Berean Baptist Church in Pella.

David and Carlene went on many adventures together, traveling to all 50 states and several foreign countries. A highlight was visiting Sweden, from which all four of her grandparents immigrated to the United States. During retirement, David and Carlene had a second home in Washington state for sixteen years. Carlene was an enthusiastic sports fan, cheering especially for ISU football and basketball. She loved attending her grandchildren’s events and listening to them tell her what was going on in their lives. “Do you have any nyheter?” she would often ask her family (Swedish for “news”).

As a girl she placed her trust in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Carlene was a Sunday School teacher for many years and served as Sunday School department superintendent, church clerk and missionary treasurer. She was also active in the Ladies Missionary Fellowship at Campus Baptist Church.  Carlene made a welcoming home and enjoyed hosting friends, missionaries and church groups. She was a woman of prayer, supporting her friends and family, showering them with cards, bringing them and their concerns to the Lord. Carlene was a member of the Gideon’s International Auxilliary, Iowa State University Alumni Association and the ISU Memorial Union. Her favorite Bible verses were John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:28 and Proverbs 3:5-6.

In January of 2022, after 68 wonderful years in Ames, David and Carlene moved to Pella, Iowa. Carlene is survived by David, her husband of 71 years, three daughters -  Susan Wymer, Sharon (Bruce) Thompson and Sara (Tim) Skinner, 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, David Wymer; a grandson, Benjamin Carl Thompson; and a great-granddaughter, Eloise Rose Thompson. 

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