Norma Jean was born on December 23, 1930 in Lincoln, Illinois to Henry Herman and Esther Marie (Barry) Rubenking.
She married Howard E. Dice on March 24, 1951, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in East Peoria. Together they celebrated 63 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on September 15, 2014. She was also preceded in death by her parents; step-father, John Knaak; two sisters, Merna Hill and Melba Cooley; and granddaughter, Melinda Carr.
Surviving are her two daughters, Cathy Jean (David) Carr of Mattoon and Nancy Kay (Tony) Caho of Green Valley; one son, Keith Howard Dice of St. Charles, MO; four grandchildren, David (Teresa) Carr, Kevin (Samantha Cain) Carr, Amanda (Kevin) Daily and Adam Caho; four great-grandchildren, Jaelynn, Elizabeth, Harley and Beau; one great-grandchild due in December; and one brother, Johnny (Betty) Knaak of Goofy Ridge, IL.
Norma Jean graduated from East Peoria High School in 1948. She worked at East Peoria Auto Supply, Schmidt Insurance Agency, East Peoria Dist. 86 and Proform, Inc. She loved to cook and was always in her kitchen cooking food for her family, even cooking Christmas dinner up until two years ago. She also enjoyed watching Hallmark movies, reading books and entering in sweepstakes. In 1979 she won the grand prize of a Dodge Winnebago Conversion Van in a Hi-C Fruit Drink Mix Sweepstakes and in 1981 won a Jeep CJ-7 as a grand prize in a “Be A Pepper” Sweepstakes. She also won over 30 other prizes in various sweepstakes.
Norma Jean was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in East Peoria where a funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Pastor Brian Pape will officiate.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria. Additional visitation will be held on Thursday at the church from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.remmertfuneralhome.com
