Norma Etta Wahl's Obituary
Norma Etta (Long) Wahl, age 96, went to walk with her beloved Angels on December 20, 2011. Norma was born in Merritt, MI on October 17, 1915 to John and Alice (Merritt) Long. She graduated from Lake City High School in 1936. Norma then attended beauty college in Flint and went on to open her own beauty salon in Lansing. When WWII broke out, she sold her shop and went to work in a factory inspecting machine gun parts for the army. While living in Lansing, she met Marvin and they were married on October 5, 1946. Norma followed Marvin through his military career to bases in New York, Florida, Germany, Colorado and Roswell, New Mexico before finally settling on a farm near Stanwood, MI. In Stanwood, she was able to resume her love of farm life, raising her own produce, milk, eggs and meat for her family. To bring in a little extra money, Norma worked as a nurse's aide at the Mecosta Memorial Hospital in Stanwood until it closed. When her health no longer allowed her to live alone on her beloved farm, Norma went to live at Royal View where her sweet smile helped her to make friends with everyone. Norma will be severely missed by her children who survive her, Gary (Diane) of Stanwood, William (Kathleen) of Muskegon, Sharon (Richard) Harvey of Lake Odessa and Larry of Mt. Pleasant, eight grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Paul (Elaine) Long of Merritt and a sister-in-law Winona Long of Ypsilanti. She will also be greatly missed by her friends and caretakers at Royal View. Norma is joining in heaven her husband Marvin, her infant daughter Karen, her parents, her brothers Leo and Harold Long, her sister, Helen Brockway and two infant great grandchildren. Funeral services for Norma will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 23, 2011 at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids with Pastor Ron White officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM prior to services. Interment will be at Stanwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan
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