Dr. Norman Held

 Dr. Norman Max Held, 87, of Ventura, died Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Ventura United Methodist Church, Ventura, with Dr. Rev. Rhoda Preston officiating with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel and then one hour before the service on Thursday at the church.  Following the service he will be cremated and inurnment will take place at a later time in Lakin Township Cemetery, Ellinwood, Kan.  The family suggests memorials to Ventura Gun Club youth program.

     Dr. Norman Held was born Aug. 27, 1926 in Great Bend, Kan., the son of Leonard Henry and Verna Viola (Lupardus) Held. Following high school he attended Kansas State College obtaining a degree in agriculture and pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was a 1st Lieutenant as adjutant and served in Denver, Colo., at Rowry AFB and TDY at Chamfer, Ga., during the Korean War.  He married Barbara Joanne Rodgers on Dec. 28, 1951, while in the service.
     Following the service he returned to Kansas State University for a degree in veterinary medicine and also obtained a degree in biological science while getting his veteranian degree.
     He moved to Ventura in 1959 and became partner with Dr. Lowell B. Johnson until 1977.  He hired Dr. Darrell L. Neuberger as partner and sold the practice to Dr. Neuberger in 1992 and continued to work for him on a part-time basis until 1996.
     Doc married Dorothy B. Hinrichs on Feb. 28, 1992 in Ventura.
     Doc was a life member of American Veterinary Medicine Association; life member of Iowa Veterinary Medicine Association; president, secretary, treasurer and vice president of North Iowa Veterinary Medicine Association; Ventura United Methodist Church, where he served as choir director, board of trustees and assistant organist; on Ventura City Council for 36 years and mayor for 10 years; member of Ventura Gun Club, director for 22 years, organized youth trapshooting and taught youth trapshooting for 35 years, with the largest youth trapshooting organization in Iowa.  He was on the board of directors of the Ventura State Bank and Community State Bank for 15 years and was Chapter Counselor at Iowa Beta, Sigma Phi Epsilon at Iowa State University 1980-96 and was recognized by Kansas State and Iowa State as Outstanding Fraternity alumnus in 1989. 
     He served on the state committee (Civic) for drug and alcohol addiction and was also treasurer for Ventura Senior Citizens.
     Doc enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapshooting and was an avid sports fan at high school activities.
     He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Held, Ventura; and a daughter, Shelley (Henry) Szipszky, Cape Coral, Fla.; stepchildren, Gene (Kathy) Hinrichs, Ventura, and Gayle (Robert) Petersen, Ringsted, Iowa; two grandchildren, Breanne (Martin) Hood, Anchorage, Alaska, and Lucas (Amanda) Szipszky, Wasilla, Alaska; three great-grandchildren, Michael Craven, Treyden Szipszky and Gavin Szipszky; and two step-grandchildren, Scott Hinrichs, Ventura, and Sarah (Doug) Thein, Ventura.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Held; wife, Barbara Held; and son, Stanley Held. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.