Norma Anita Wicker

When they heard her distinctive “Howdy do” on the other end of the line, family and friends always knew they had reached Norma Anita (Patterson) Wicker. Born January 4, 1927 to Harry and Nellie Patterson, Norma was never without family to call. The third of five children, Norma was born shortly before the Great Depression on the family’s farm near Weidman, Michigan. Born shortly after supper (because she wanted to be fed first, as the story goes), Norma had a happy and inquisitive childhood. Years later, she would tell stories of eating bread and brown gravy day after day… which she reportedly had been told would grow feathers on her legs, so she waited and watched. Although times were hard, Norma enjoyed music (her father played the guitar and her mom the old chord organ) and she passed that love of music (particularly the violin) on to her children and grandchildren. Norma also cultivated a love for her garden and always boasted a meticulously kept yard. In one of her early homes in Lansing, Norma filled the yard with flowers grown from starts from both sides of the family; having family near was what made Norma happiest.

She didn’t wait long to start her own family, marrying Cleavland (“Cleav”) Wicker when she was 18 and he was only 17. After meeting at a joint birthday party for Cleav and Norma’s sister, Thelma, he proposed when he was only 15. They lived together in love for more than 50 years, sharing a son and daughter and many years of happy memories.

Perhaps because of her early upbringing, or perhaps because of how she cherished her family, she never threw away anything her family gave her. Cleav talked Norma into many grand ideas, including moving into new houses that needed to be renovated and helping to build the family’s collective “Cottage” up north. The walls would come near to bursting when the extended family got together, but family was what Norma loved most. Never living more than a few blocks away from some extension of her family, Norma enjoyed traveling to her parents’ and sisters’ cottages. Although she didn’t learn to swim or drive until she was 30, Norma later enjoyed fishing on one of several family boats, and she and Cleav traveled the country from one end to the other by motor home.

Although her days were spent more quietly in later years, Norma still enjoyed gardening with her family who would look forward to the days together working in the yard, remembering beautiful, fun days of family together, past and yet to come.

Norma departed this life on September 13, 2020. Her kind, loving, and generous spirit will be remembered fondly by the many family members who loved her dearly, her daughter, Linda S. Wicker; her son, Daniel O. (Vicky) Wicker; five grandchildren, Danyel Wyskowski, Darci Wyskowski, Jerilyn (Craig) Cole, Rob (Kim) Morris, Angena (Jeff) Schwartz; eleven great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; her brother, Donald Patterson; her sister-in-law Barbara Wicker, and 18 nieces and nephews. She is reunited with her husband, Cleavland D. Wicker; infant son, Michael D. Wicker; parents, Harry and Nellie Patterson; parents-in-law, Daniel and Carrie Wicker; sisters, Thelma Patterson, Marguerite (Charlie) Babcock, Neva (Frank) Nowosacki; brothers-in-law, Jerry Wicker, Larry (Dawn) Wicker, James Wicker; sister-in-law, Mary Jo Wicker; and nephew, Stephen Nowosacki.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, September 24 at 2 PM at Evergreen Cemetery, 1709 East Mt Hope Ave, Lansing, MI. Those desiring may make contributions in Norma’s memory to Careline Hospice, 113 W. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 102, Jackson, MI, 49621. Online condolences may be made at www.grlansing.com.