9/13/1939 – 11/8/2024
Emporia, KS
Norma Jean Guenther Waddell of Emporia, Kansas was born September 13, 1939 in Bedford, Iowa, the daughter of Marjorie and I.W. (Pete) Bristow. She passed away Friday, November 8, 2024 after a heroic 25 year battle with multiple cancers and heart disease. She was such a fighter and handled every challenge with grace and dignity.
In August, 1959, she married John E. Guenther, Bedford, IA. John passed away from cancer in June 1991. Also preceding in death was her daughter, Lynn Ann Guenther-Alexander of Lawrence, KS, parents Marjorie and I.W. Bristow of Bedford, IA, her sister, Shirley Ellen Bristow Sleep of Bedford, IA and brother, Robert Franklin Bristow of Cedar Rapids, IA.
In 2004, she married Gerald (Jerry) Waddell of Emporia, KS, where they continued to live until her death.
Norma graduated in 1958 from Bedford High School, Bedford, IA. After her marriage to John, she worked as a secretary for many years. Among those were attorneys and the Greene County Extension Services in Jefferson, IA, Southwestern Bell, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and most recently 20 years at Lawrence High School. Among her duties at Lawrence High were working with 21 English teachers, numerous students each semester, maintaining the library for the English department of some 2000 students as well as lots of computer work. She served on the planning committee for the Lawrence High Faculty and Staff Association, was president of Lawrence Association of Office, Educational Personnel and served on the negotiations team. She was the head cheerleading coach for 3 years as well as Key Club sponsor. Her love for her job, her students and faculty, showed in her interactions with them.
Her contributions to the community were chairperson for the Disaster Mass Care Feeding for the local American Red Cross and as a Red Cross Board member. She graduated from the Lawrence Community Police Academy and was active with the Tips Hotline organization as well as a Crime Stoppers Board member. She was also active in educational groups including Kansas University Women, KU Alumni Association and Friends of the Theatre in which she was a board member. She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce Envoy Committee and was on the Tourism and Visitors Task Force.
She was a member of the Methodist Church in Lawrence and currently a member of the Wesleyan Church in Lamont, KS. She had a strong Christian faith that gave her courage during her many illnesses. She was active in the Emporia Research Club, PEO Chapter DI, volunteering at Newman Regional Hospital of Emporia and Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lied Center volunteer, ladies golf, bridge and coffee clubs and absolutely loved to travel, having chaperoned many international trips with high school students. Norma was an avid fan of all sports, but especially Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs. She cherished her family and friends, whom she dearly loved and lived for each day.
She is survived by two daughters, Jane Guenther Buss (Matt), grandchildren Joshua and Ella and Susan Guenther Brown, grandchildren Ben and Liv, son-in-law, Jim Alexander, grandchildren Sydney and Zachary, her husband, Gerald (Jerry) Waddell, Teresa Watkins (Llew), grandchild Jack and Mike Waddell (Karen) and grandchildren Bret, Austin (Bryanna) and Abby Waddell and great-grandchildren Archie and Margo.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 10am, followed by a Memorial Service at 11am at the Wesleyan Church in Lamont, Kansas. A Memorial has been established at the Wesleyan Church in honor of Norma.
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