Obituary
Callie Jean (Miller) Norstrom
1928-2021
Jean (Callie) Miller (Norstrom) was born September 27, 1928 to Jacob and Callie Miller of Springfield Illinois.
Callie Jean was her legal name given at birth, however, over the years she went by the name Jean but many others, especially after she moved to Long Term Care, knew her as Callie.
At 1 year old, her parents moved to Arrowwood Alberta (1929/1930) where she lived until approximately 1942 or 1943. It was while they were here that her sister (her only sibling) Gladys (Miller) Lagore was born. In the mid 1940’s was a move with her mother and sister to central Alberta, in the Pigeon Valley just south of Pigeon Lake. It was here that she began attending Sunday service and other church activities held at Axel and Sophia Norstrom’s home and met their son Emil Norstrom.
After marriage, and Emil finishing up studies at Temple Bible College in 1948, Jean and her new husband settled in Wildwood Alberta and took on their first pastorate. During their time pastoring Bethel, the country church, the « boys » – Hugh and the twins were born. Life for the young wife, mother and pastor’s wife became busy. Jean and Emil pastored in Wildwood until February 1956, at which time they moved to Ft. McMurray. They moved by train, the only way in those days, and Ft. Mac was certainly not the thriving metropolis that it is today. Much of the same type of amenities faced Jean there. In January 1959 another big moved became part of Jean’s lot. A move to Amisk Alberta to a pastorate, and a little more contact with the rest of civilization. In January 1964, another move for Jean, this time back north again to Dawson Creek. It was here in Dawson Creek in late 1964 that Jean got her long wished for daughter – Darla. Jean and family lived in Dawson Creek until the Fall of 1972. In 1972, life took another of those turns that are common to life but never the less somewhat life changing. This time a move to Clearwater, where they took a break from pastoring and Emil drove school bus. It was also opportunity for « the boys » to move on in their life and Jean was left with just Darla at home. Then again, in 1977, the moving bug struck and it was off back to Amisk, Alberta, in July, for a second term pastoring there. This was a short term and a year or so later they moved on to Wetaskiwin to spend the rest of their time and retirement there.
Emil had told Jean he wanted to live to give her their 50th anniversary. On June 8 1998, they celebrated their 50th anniversary in the hospital and on June 17th, he passed away. Jean and Darla remained in the house they had bought until May of 2019.
The last few years, Jean experienced a few strokes that while they may have slowed her a bit and caused some adjustment in activity she remained strong and ambitious and for as long as she could she loved to putter in the yard with her flowers and birds. Near the beginning of 2019 she had another stroke, and by May it became apparent that she needed more help and medical supervision than could be done at home, and so made her last earthly move this time to Long Term Care at Wetaskiwin Hospital.
Now, at 1:54 am, December 3 2021, she has made her last move to her eternal home – never to need to move again. (her son Darrel had the privilege of being with her).
She is survived by her three children, Hugh (and Hazel) Norstrom of Kamloops, B.C., Darrel (and Santana) Norstrom of Prince George, B.C., Dallas (and Faye) Norstrom of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, and Darla Norstrom of Wetaskiwin Alberta; ten grandchildren, Orlund, Twyla and Virden (Kerry) Norstrom of Kamloops B.C., Dana Kopelchuk (Prince George, B.C.), Shirley Ostroski (Clearwater, B.C.), Annette Bagu (Clearwater, B.C.), Christopher (Iris) Norstrom of China, Joy (Kris) Joyce of Calgary, Heather Norstrom of Calgary, and Kerri Norstrom of Calgary; 15 great-grandchildren; her sister Gladys (Art) Lagore.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jean Callie Norstrom September 27 1928 December 3 2021 (age 93)..
Décès pour la Ville: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta