The Reverend Norman Norris Franzen of Omaha entered his heavenly home on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, at Hillcrest Shadow Lake Nursing Facility, at the age of 88.
Norman was born April 15, 1936, in Gothenburg, to Meinert and Elizabeth (Aden) Franzen. He was raised in Gothenburg and was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church. He graduated from Gothenburg High School with the Class of 1954. He continued his education at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, where he was a member of Beta Sigma Psi fraternity. He graduated from Wartburg College, before attending Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating with a master’s in divinity degree in 1962.
On July 2, 1964, he was married to Kathryn Krogh in Gothenburg. Together they shared 37 years of marriage, until Kathryn’s passing in 2001.
His career as an ordained Lutheran clergyman included service in Kansas and Indiana before moving to the Los Angeles, California, area where he served the last 30 years of his career. After retirement in 2003, he moved back to Nebraska, where he settled in Omaha to be closer to family. He resided at Maple Ridge Retirement Community for nearly 20 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Norris; his wife, Kathryn; his sister, Maryan Carlson; and his nephew, Jon Carlson.
Survivors include his sister, Diane (Dale) Kinnan of Gothenburg; brother-in-law, Tom Krogh of Cozad; nieces, Jodi (Jay) Doran of Belton, Texas, Becky (Tim) Gibbens of Gothenburg, and Meghan (Ben) Harris of Klamath Falls, Oregon; nephew, Brad (Lisa) Kinnan of Cozad; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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