Norman Bosch, of Montevideo, died Friday, November 20, 2015 at his home in Montevideo at the age of 79.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 24 at 1:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Montevideo with Rev. Gwen Bohlke officiating. Interment will be at Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-8:00 PM at the Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service at 7:45 PM. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour before the services on Tuesday.
Norman David Bosch was born on January 31, 1936 in Benson, Minnesota to Bernard “Bernie” and Ellen (Lee) Bosch. He graduated from Benson High School in 1954. While touring the University of Minnesota in the spring of 1954 he met his future wife, Wilma Deal. Norman and Wilma were married on August 4, 1957 at the Methodist Church in Tracy, Minnesota. Norman graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota, College of Agriculture in 1958 with a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry. Norman and Wilma returned to the home farm in Grace Township. He served in the US Army Reserve from January of 1958 through December 1962. Norman farmed from 1958 to 2011. In 1993 Norman and Wilma moved to Montevideo.
Family, church, farming and community were all important aspects of Norman’s life. He was active in church serving on numerous committees including building and merger committees at Rosewood United Methodist Church and Montevideo United Methodist Church. Norman had been an active 4-H member and served as an adult 4-H leader for many years. He served on the First National Bank board for over 28 years and the Chippewa County Fair Board for over 25 years where he was named 2009 Volunteer of the year. His other professional involvement included: Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, American Dairy Association, Dairy Herd Improvement Association and charter member of the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative and Minnesota Corn Processors. Because community was important to Norman he was a member of the Montevideo Chamber, the Kiwanis, Brookside Manor Board, Habitat for Humanity, Fiesta Floral Society and the Montevideo Foundation Board.
Norman was a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardner and loved to spend time in his greenhouse. He was interested in conservation and set aside land for this purpose early in his farming career. His devotion to his profession lead to him being named Outstanding Young Farmer and later Chippewa County Farm Family of the year in 1989 and 2001.
Wilma and his children were most important to Norman. His children remember that even though he worked long hours farming he attended every event they participated in. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Norman was a humble, generous and faithful man who had a sense of humor and always found the good in people.
Norman is survived by his wife of 58 years, Wilma; his children: Bradley (Gail) of Woodridge, IL, Steven (Marcy) of Spirit Lake, IA, JoEllen Park of Anoka, MN, Kent (Janet) of Montevideo, MN and Julie Drechsler of Hamilton, Victoria, Australia; 13 grandchildren: Sara, Nathan, Carrie, Peyton, Matthew, Andrew, Taylor, Morghan, Alexandra, Anthony, William, Kate, and David; 2 great-grandchildren: Amelia and Rebecca; a brother Douglas Bosch of Montevideo, MN, and many other relatives and friends.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents: Bernie and Ellen Bosch; sister, Joyce Stevens; brother-in-law, Malcom Biggin; sister-in-law, Barb Bosch; nephew, David Deal; and niece, Janell (Stevens) Johnk.
Memorials preferred to Minnesota 4-H Foundation, Montevideo United Methodist Church, and American Cancer Society (designate Prostate Cancer Research).