Norma Ione Rupp

She was born April 19, 1936, in Hopedale, to Ethelbert and Sadie (Tapp) Wilson, she married Lowell C. Rupp on November 29, 1964 in Henry. He died September 20, 2013. She was also preceded in death by her parents; eight sisters and three brothers.

Surviving are her daughter, Dr. Melinda (Dr. Michael) of Vestal, New York; one son, Christopher Rupp of Pekin; one stepdaughter, Vicki (John) Bergerhouse of Loveland, Ohio and two grandsons, Ely and Noah Kirsch of Vestal, New York.

She grew up in Hopedale, attending Hopedale Grade School and Hopedale High School, graduating in 1954. She entered the field of nursing attending Brokaw Hospital, Normal, for a three year program, graduating in 1957. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University, graduating July 1, 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Norma worked at the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville from July 1958 to December 31, 1964 and taught psychiatric nursing for 6 years. While at Peoria State Hospital, she also taught students for a ten-week session at Zeller Zone Center in Peoria. She worked at OSF Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria, where she always remembered and revered Sister Benedict, who encouraged her to continue her career in nursing education at OSF St. Francis. Norma spent her career there from 1965 to 1998. Norma got her Masters in Secondary Teaching Methods at Bradley University in 1978 and a second Masters in Community Nursing Health of Children and Adolescents. She had a lifetime of friends, cherishing the workplace and coworkers at OSF Saint Francis.

Norma was a life member of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society and was continually working on her family genealogy. She was also a member of OSF Saint Francis Senior Saints Retirees Group, Sigma Theta Tau International, Tau Omicron Chapter and Honor Society in Nursing.

She was a past member of the American Nurses Association and the Illinois Nurses Association and served as past Chairperson of the 7th District Illinois Nurses.

She loved talking to people and revisiting the past and keeping in touch with all her siblings and she continued to stay in contact with all of her nieces and nephews after her sibling’s passing. The social highlight she always enjoyed was going out for coffee with her retired nursing coworkers.

Norma was best at describing her childhood, growing up in a big family in Hopedale, knowing most of the town’s people, everyone’s commonplace sacrifices, the love of playing sports as a kid, her mother’s enduring hard work and her love for raising her twelve children.

She enjoyed gardening, where she would start her own plants from seedling’s, baking, working crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper and watching sports on TV.

She was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church of Pekin, where she was a member of United Methodist Women and Rachel Sarah Circle. She was continually walking the path that she thought God would want her to take. Norma was an also member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Chaplain Greg Fitch will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Burial will be at Shiloh Cemetery in Hopedale.

Memorial contributions may be given to Grace United Methodist Church, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554 or Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com