Norma Jean Ogburn

Norma Jean Ogburn, 90, of Moline, IL, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018, at Friendship Manor in Rock Island. Services will be Saturday, June 16 th , at 11:00 a.m., at First Evangelical Free Church, 3321 – 7 th Street, Moline, with a two-hour visitation prior to the service, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Evangelical Free Church Youth Group. Norma Jean Niemier was born in Fort Dodge, IA, on February 22, 1928, to Frank and Sylvia (Klinefelter) Niemier.  On June 1, 1980, in Moline, she married Everett Ogburn, who preceded her in death April 22, 1997. She graduated from Fort Dodge High School, and received a teacher’s certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA.  Norma Jean was a member of the Do-Si-Do Square Dancers, was a past president of the Moline Horticultural Society, and was a former Girl Scout Leader.  She was involved for eight years in a program in Harlingen, TX, that recruited senior citizens to help youngsters to read.  Her dog, Panda, was a great companion to her.  Norma Jean will always be a beloved part of the Teske Pet & Garden family.  In 1953, she took on the vital role of outside plant manager and buyer.  Many who worked under NJ would quote one of her favorite lines, “Move it again!”  She was well-known by many in the community as The Plant Lady, a garden aficionado whose love of plants was passed down to countless Teske employees.  The garden wasn’t Norma Jean’s only specialty at Teske’s.  She was also a very skilled business woman who progressed from basic bookkeeping to the “new age” of computer entries.  She was a substantial part of the company as a member of the Board of Directors, and she always wanted to do more.  Norma Jean faithfully and delightedly came to work at Teske’s for sixty-five years, and was loved and adored by the entire staff.  The Plant Lady will be deeply missed by all. Survivors include a daughter, Peggy Kauffman of Madeira Beach, FL, and her son, Christopher Ragel of Lavonia, GA; daughters, Marcella Hilbert of DeWitt, IA, and Phyllis McClaskey of Colona, IL; sons, Cal (Sharon) Ogburn of Springfield, MO, Gary Ogburn of Spencer, IA, and William Ogburn of Reasnor, IA; a brother, George Niemier of Fort Dodge;  a sister, Diane (Jim) Lutz of Littleton, CO; a brother, Dale (Jeanette) Niemier of Fort Dodge, IA; more than one hundred grandchildren, and over fifty great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and mother, Laurabelle; a son, John Kauffman; husbands, Albert Kauffman and Everett Ogburn; a sister, Darlene Preston; daughters, Rosie Ferris and Peggy Wooley; and sons, David Ogburn and Dean Ogburn.

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