Annette Service Van Norman passed away peacefully on the morning of April 22.
Annette was born June 1, 1936 in Ceres Ca, to Ward E. Service and Martha Monica Marko. She spent her entire childhood in Ceres, Ca where she grew up with so many lifelong friends. Annette graduated from Ceres High School in 1954 and then attended Sacramento State University where she joined the Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
On a visit home one weekend, her friend Marlene asked her to go on a double date with her and her boyfriend. That was the day she met her future husband, Hiram (Hi) O. Van Norman. They were married in August 1956. They had a home built on the ranch that Hi owned with his brother, Clarence, and sisters, Betty and Bertha. The next summer, they welcomed their first bundle of joy, a son, Hiram. Two years later came daddy’s little girl, Monica. Annette was a wonderful mother to her children. There was school room mother, Boy Scouts, Bluebirds, Campfire Girls, 4-H, softball, football, wrestling, band, choir and many more activities that they all shared as a family.
Annette went back to college in 1969. She got her BA from Stanislaus State and continued on to get her teaching credential. Annette taught for many years as an elementary teacher in Valley Home. After she retired, she decided that she missed the classroom and the kids, so she became a substitute teacher in Waterford. In 1979 she welcomed Susan (Tate) Montgomery as an honorary family member. She was not done with adding family members yet. In 1989, she had three summer exchange students from Scandinavia through the IOOF program. One, René Juncker from Denmark stood out. René came back in 1990 and attended Oakdale High School as a senior and graduated in 1991. Her Danish son René and his family are still a part of Annette’s family today.
Annette loved to travel, cook and entertain. She was a member of the Knights Ferry Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. She formed a Gourmet Club with her sorority sisters that lasted for 40+ years. She was the instigator for having Ceres High School Class of ’54 parties every year instead of every five years. She insisted they all come to her home.
Annette was preceded in death by her husband, Hi, and brother Hugh. She is survived by her children, Hiram Van Norman, Monica (Mike) Harper, Susan Montgomery, René (Theresa) Juncker. Sister Suzanne (Robert) Stanfield. Sister-in-laws Bertha Tedsen and Esther ‘Rocky’ Nelson, caregiver/friend Patty Bell and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and many, many friends.
A Celebration of life will be held on Annette’s birthday, Friday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the family ranch. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Annette’s name to Community Hospice, www.give.hospiceheart.org, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356 or Knights Ferry Rebekahs Lodge c/o IOOF Stanislaus Lodge #170, P.O. Box 834, Knights Ferry, CA 95361.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
May 23, 2018