Norma Loretta Kisgen

Norma Loretta Kisgen (“Kiz-gen’) was born March 28, 1921 in Autoban County, Iowa and died July 9, 2015 at home in Gresham, Oregon after living 94 years, 3 months and 11 days. She is survived by her niece Diane and her husband Jim, great nephew Danny and great nieces Debbie and her husband Dale and Dawnette and her husband Darwin and a ton of great great relatives. Nor was preceded in death by her husband Orville, brother Buggy, sister Uldene (“Ull-dean”) and her nephew Richard.

So Nor was the last of the three children born to Wren and Daisy Johnson Phelps following firstborn Buggy and sister Uldene. Her dad worked in oil distribution. Nor grew up in Iowa with her best friend Helen and actually enjoyed school. She was a great speller, loved to read and had beautiful handwriting. She was good-looking, grew up just outside of town in big, beautiful home, loved animals and always had a pet dog. Her mom was high society and did things right. One time she told Nor and Uldene as she was leaving the house to do the dishes while she was out. WELL, they decided they didn’t want to do the dishes so they buried them in the snow in the backyard! In the springtime when the snow melted Daisy looked out in the backyard and saw her missing china and exclaimed, “Wren, there’s all my dishes with the “P” on them!” (The “P” was for “Phelps”).

Nor grew up in the midst of an extended family and graduated from high school in 1939 and immediately married Orville Kisgen (“Kiz-gen”) on June 9th who was 2 or 3 years older and used to drive down from Templeton to see her. Since Orv was from a strong Catholic family Nor joined the Catholic Church so they could receive the Sacrament of Marriage from a Catholic Priest as well. Then Nor and Orv hopped in the car with Uldene and her husband and headed out here to Portland to find work. When both their husbands took off to the fight the war the two sisters had a good time together.

Following the war Orv got into the merchandizing business and named his company “Kisgen Merchandizing” and in 1949 the two of them settled in their forever home in Gateway at 112th and Knott that Orv built. He would go on to build houses through the 50’s with Nor doing the bookwork for the company. Then Orv bought a backhoe and decided to get into the cell pool business and named his company “Kisgen’s Cell Pools” and would stay with it until he retired at age 66.

The two of them were members of the Elks Club and loved to go there for eats, drinks and dancing with Nor’s drink of choice being a 7&7. She also enjoyed stopping in at the Country Kitchen for a steak dinner. And when it came socializing she and Orv were best buddies with Madeline and her husband Del. Madeline had moved out from Iowa as well and the two were lifelong friends. Nor and Orv were also long time Motorhome enthusiasts driving their rig to places like Lincoln City, Vegas, Reno and Tahoe. They saw Elvis at Caesar’s Palace (he walked right by their table) as well as Frank Sinatra and Nor always brought silver dollars home to share. She wasn’t one to put on the bling however and was more of a conservative dresser – slacks, plaid shirts, necklace and earrings. More reserved personality – prim and proper like. When it came to traveling however, flying on an airplane was absolutely out of the question! Except the time a conspiracy was put together to see to it that she had a few too many drinks and she ended up a plane to Hawaii – oh well.

Nor loved her flowers especially red geraniums and was huge animal lover with some of her canine companions over the years being “Mugsy”, “Bingo”, “Brownie”, “Baby” and “Annie” the biter. On TV she was into Lawrence Welk, Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, Carol Burnette and Johnny Carson. She and Orv had a wonderful life together and when he passed away in 2005 she was 84 and like a ship without a rudder – they had been together for 66 years. Orv had been the center of her world and watched over her until the day he died. Great nephew Danny stayed with her in the home so she wouldn’t have to be alone.

Nor drove for two more years then had to stop because she started getting lost. She was able to stay in her home though until three years ago when she fell and broke her hip. By hospital decree she was placed in a nursing home for rehab that she checked herself out of and moved in with Diane where she’s been cared for ever since. Her last year she became a very picky eater with her main food group being a McDonald Double Cheese Berger with ketchup. O.K. she could also get down a cupcake and had a bowl of M&M’s by her bed. Her last two weeks here on earth she couldn’t eat anything but a few bites of ice cream and could barely sip water. She loved her family and hung on to the end. When Diane said to her, “Nor it’s O.K. – you can go to sleep now.” She took her last breath.

Nor believed in the Lord and has by now experienced firsthand things the rest of us can only see by faith. And though her passing leaves a gap no one else will be able to fill her life and love have left memories no one can steal.

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Norma Loretta Kisgen was born on March 28, 1921 in Leroy Iowa to Perry and Daisey (Johnson) Phelps. She passed away at her home in Gresham Oregon on July 9, 2015 at the age of 94.

Nor grew up in rural Iowa where she attended local schools and met the love of her life Orville Kisgen. At a young age they were married and began their journey through life together.

In 1939 Nor and Orv came out to Oregon in a model T Ford with a rumble seat and never returned to Iowa. She loved the great northwest and enjoyed many camping trips with her nieces and nephews.

She was known as a loving woman who always took care of everyone around her. Nor even rescued the stray dogs in the neighborhood and nursed them back to good health. Her family has fond memories of her passing Oreo cookies to them as children through the fence at school and dropping them off at the movies loaded with popcorn she made herself.

Nor will be remembered most for always giving what she had to those she loved. Her family will miss her dearly and follow her example of caring and kindness for anyone in need.

Nor is survived by her niece Diane (Jim) Lewis; her great nephew Daniel Fahey; her great nieces Debbie (Dale) Wilson and Dawnette (Darwin) Meacham; and many of her great-great nieces and nephews.

She will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery next to her husband of 66 years Orville Kisgen.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, 1515 NE 106th Avenue, Portland, OR 97220. A committal service will be held at 9:30am on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scot Blvd., Portland, OR 97086.