Norma Ann Balcom

Norma Ann (Bell) Balcom, 80, of Marshalltown passed away on July 1st 2014. Normas family will be holding a visitation at Mitchell Family Funeral Home on Sunday, July 6th from 4:00-6:00 and a funeral service to celebrate her wonderful life on Monday, July 7th at 10:30 AM at First Congregational Church. Norma was a friend to many in our community and welcomed everyone at the family owned restaurant, Uncle Jacks Tacos. All who knew Norma are invited to join her family, not to mourn her loss, but to celebrate her life. Norma was born on March 4th, 1934 to James Jackson and Irene Louise (Tietz) Bell on a farm in Hubbard Iowa. Norma lived in Iowa Falls. As a girl she enjoyed the simple things in life like playing jax and hopscotch with her friends, and being with her brother Don Bell. Norma graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1952. Clarence, the love of her life, and Norma met at the Iowa Falls skating rink when Norma was 14 and Clarence was 19. The two were married at the Owasa Methodist church on August 24th of 1952 in Owasa, Iowa. Norma and Clarence lived in Iowa Falls for 2 years, despite not wanting to move away from her family, she did, and then moved to Marshalltown where they resided since then and absolutely loved it. Norma adored Clarence (Snook) and they had a kind of love between them that others could only dream about. Norma had two children Peggy Balcom who was born on June 23, 1955, who lived in Marshalltown, and Craig Balcom, born on February 18 1958, who currently resides in Eldora, Iowa. Norma stayed home with Peggy and Craig, and was the best- stay at home mom there was. She also assisted with Clarences business ventures when they began Uncle Jacks Tacos and B&B Mini Storage. Since then, Norma has been the friendly face that welcomed everyone when they came in to the restaurant, and worked there until recently this year. Norma didnt know a stranger and knew everyones name, and order. Outside of the restaurant she knew just what to say to make people smile. She was a friend to everyone and had a heart of gold. She would be the first one to offer a helping hand, or a refreshment. Norma had two granddaughters Jillissa (and Brooks) Moorman, and Alesha Balcom. Norma was especially close with her granddaughters and treated them more as daughters. She enjoyed being as active as she could in the girls lives and was always seen at GMG for their events, and continued to be a wonderful role model in the girls lives. Norma had 5 great grandchildren whom she absolutely adored. Baileigh and Brielle are Aleshas daughters, and Kalya, Kolson and Karder are Jillissas children. Norma enjoyed having her great-grandkids come over and play, and watching them grow. Norma absolutely loved rocking each of her grandkids- regardless of how big they got. She would rock them for hours and hours, and even if her arm fell asleep she would hold onto them until they woke up. Recently, Karder took his first steps, and it was when he was walking to her, with her arms wide open. Norma kept diaries for every year and her love of her family and friends is lovingly outlined in them. Norma was the sweetest individual who had sparkle in her eyes. She enjoyed being with her friends, attending church, and being as social as she could. She enjoyed being at the restaurant with her family, traveling with family, watching sports, shopping with her grandkids, playing cards, and getting together with friends from school. Dont let her fool you, this girly girl who loved her perfume and makeup would be the first to take a fish off a hook and in old times smoke a cigar with friends (she gave up smoking though). Most of all, she enjoyed being around her family. She loved family get-togethers, holidays at home, and gathering around her table. She would always put her heart into everything that she did and her house was always full of love. Norma wrote down advice that she had received and it was to, Be kind to people and theyll be kind to you. Help a family friend in need. Do not be critical of others. Never hate someone. Dont overspend your budget, and always wish people the best. These few words written about Norma in no way capture the true beauty of her character. She was beautiful inside and out and while her family already misses her terribly we still want to find joy in her life, because it was beautiful. Left to remember Norma are her husband of 63 years this August, Clarence (Snook), her son Craig of Eldora, her granddaughters Jillissa (and Brooks ) Moorman, Alesha Balcom, and her great grandchildren Baileigh, Brielle, Kalya, Kolson, and Karder. She also has several brothers and sister in laws, nieces and nephews, and cousins. Those who were waiting for her in Heaven were her parents James and Irene Bell, who she thought the absolute world of, and her brother Don Bell. She was also reunited with her daughter Peggy, whom she loved and missed dearly. Normas family would like to say thank you to everyone in our community for your kindness and outpouring of love, and also thank you to those who worked closely with her to help her these last few months. Condolences may be sent to Mitchell Family Funeral Home. The family also requests that everyone would do something kind for someone else on Monday, in memory of Norma.