Services were held Saturday, May 12, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson for Norman Lane, 90, of Carlisle, formerly of Jefferson.
Father Donald Ries celebrated the Mass of the Resurrection. Lectors were Darcy Hathaway and Jordan Russell. Musicians were Kristen and David Heupel.
Casket bearers were Mark Lane, Kelly Lane, Nate Lane, Jon Lane, Trent Barnes, Chad Barnes and Patrick Lane.
Norman Eugene Lane was born in Jefferson on Dec. 29, 1927. He was the son of Bruce and Bonnie (Vought) Lane. Norman graduated from Jefferson High School in 1945. He was a life-long Ram fan, with at least one child, grandchild, or great-grandchild attending school in Jefferson continuously from 1957 through 2006.
Norman married Mary Frances George on Sept. 9, 1950. They became parents of seven children. Norman’s love for people was skillfully applied to his work as a life insurance and annuities salesman for the Central Life Assurance Company (AmerUs Life). Norman’s family could always tell when it had been a good day at work because of his “policy grin.”
Norman was a faithful member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson. In retirement, he volunteered for 10 years as the Wednesday afternoon catechism bus driver. Saint Joe’s children were always greeted with a smile and a piece of red licorice. Norman’s heart for service extended beyond his church. During the Christmas season, he took pleasure in becoming Santa Norm. Norman once remarked in a Jefferson Herald feature, “I love watching their eyes when they first see me. Their eyes light up like Christmas trees.”
Norman’s greatest love was his family. He took great pride in the life and work accomplishments of his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved to visit, and after any conversation with Norm you would be fully caught up on the life events of every member of his extended family.
Norman Eugene Lane died May 8, 2018 at the Carlisle Care Center in Carlisle. He was 90 years of age. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Mary Frances; a son, Jon Michael Lane; a daughter, Mary Jean Elizabeth Lane; a brother, Charles, and a sister, Alice.
Survivors include his daughter Mary Jo Nickless and her husband Bryan Nickless of Omaha, NE; sons Thomas Lane and his wife Kathy of Des Moines, Mark Lane and his wife Marilyn, and David Lane and his wife Rhena, all of Jefferson, and Matthew Lane and his wife Fiona of Ocala, FL; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; and his brother Jack Lane of Indiana.
The family was assisted by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.
