Charles H. Norris

 Charles H. (Chuck) Norris, 88, of rural Mason City, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa West Campus, Mason City.
 A Celebration of his life was on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave. N., Clear Lake, with Rev. Bernie Colorado officiating. Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Memorials may be given to the Charles H. Norris Memorial Fund.

 Chuck was born July 23, 1925 in Earlham, Iowa, to Rose V. (Bishop) and Loyd E. Norris. He was raised in Earlham and Plad, Mo., before moving to Mason City when he was 14. He served two years in the United States Army serving in Japan during the occupation of World War II.
 He returned to Mason City and started his farming career in 1947 with the help of General Hanford MacNider renting a farm owned by the MacNider family just outside of town. Chuck married Ruth M. Ransom on June 19, 1948 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, Mason City. They had two children, Linda (Larry) McNamara and Charlie (Louise) Norris. They moved their family to a farm they were able to purchase between Mason City and Clear Lake in 1961. Their farming career spanned over six decades. Chuck liked trying new things and he was always an early adopter of technologies that would improve his farm operation. He was happiest when his entire family was busy working on the farm and during the family gatherings around the kitchen table at the farm. He was truly a lifetime farmer and talked about checking the crops on the farm he loved until the day he died.
 Chuck was involved in the community as a Lincoln Township Trustee, ASCS township committeeman, served on committees of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church and served on the Cerro Gordo County Farm Bureau board of directors. He was a DeKalb seed dealer, along with his son, Charlie, for 30 years. He was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.
Chuck had many interests including collecting antique tractors, gardening, tractor rides, and taking fishing trips to Canada and northern Minnesota.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Ruth Norris, Mason City; two children, Linda McNamara and her husband, Larry, Mason City, and Charlie Norris and his wife, Louise, Mason City; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Todd) Cash, Clear Lake, Elizabeth (Calvin) Thyer, Osage, Iowa, Jason (Stephanie Wharton) Norris, Clear Lake, and Matt (Stephanie) McNamara, West Des Moines, Iowa; nine great-grandchildren, Katie (fiancé Dan Behr) Cash, Clear Lake, Madalynn Cash, Clear Lake, Andrew and Alexa Thyer, Osage, Rowan Norris, Clear Lake, Wesley and Reece Wharton, Clear Lake, and Michael and Makenna McNamara, West Des Moines.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Earl Norris; sister, Marilyn Garlock; half-sister, Marie Root; and half-brother, Virgil Norris.
Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.