In Memory
John Wesley Norman Jr.
September 10, 1930 – January 27, 2024
John W. Norman, Jr., 93, of South Bend, Indiana died on January 27, 2024 at Healthwin after an extended illness. He is survived by sons Mark Norman (Joy) and Paul Norman (Debra), stepdaughter Maralee Holdren (Thomas), stepson Duncan MacMillan, grandchildren Luke Norman, Hope Norman, Kaitlyn Norman, Jacqueline Wiley, Alexandra Goodnight, Kristin Mishler and Erin MacMillan, great-grandchildren Noah Mishler, Gideon Mishler, Bryant Wiley and Zariyah Wiley, and special friend Betty Martha Haines. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lynn Prough Norman, parents John W. Norman and Lodema Douglas Norman, brothers Donald Norman and Larry Norman, and sisters Doris “Evelyn” Norem and Betty Berg.
John was born on September 10, 1930, in Knox County and graduated from Culver High School. John was a musician, with B.S. and M.A. degrees from Ball State University, who was a Band Director and music educator in South Bend for four decades at the following high schools and their feeder schools: Central, Washington, Clay, and LaSalle. He could play virtually any musical instrument and enjoyed teaching young children how to play their first instrument. He performed with the Elkhart Municipal Band, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Twin City Pops, the Royal Hussars, and other jazz and Dixieland groups. John served in the Indiana National Guard. He was a member of the 1 st United Methodist Church of South Bend and Rotary.
In addition to music, he enjoyed travel, camping, animals, telling jokes and riddles and meeting new people. The family thanks the staff of Healthwin who cared for him after a major stroke a few years ago.
A visitation followed by funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 10 at 11a.m. at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Healthwin or a South Bend public school music department in John’s memory.
01/31/2024 JFC
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