Coleen passed away on October 1, 2024 at Brookstone Village in Omaha.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Shenandoah.  The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Sunday, October 6, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the rosary being recited at 6:30 p.m.  Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary's Guild or Heart Heroes.

Coleen Ann Ketcham was born January 11, 1938, at Hand Hospital in Shenandoah, Iowa. She was the middle child and only daughter of Ermal and Mildred (Smith) Ketcham. Coleen departed this earthly world October 1, 2024, at Brookestone Village in Omaha, Nebraska. Her early years were spent growing up in rural Grant and Morton Townships along with her siblings, Robert, Marion, Donald and Ronald. Coleen attended White Cloud country school for 4 years from kindergarten through 3rd grade. Then, when the family moved further south, she attended West Center country school through the 8th grade. Coleen attended Coin High School in Coin, Iowa, graduating in 1956. During her high school years, she was a 4-year cheerleader, homecoming queen her junior year, was vice-president of her class, and participated in vocal music, speech and drama contests and school plays.

The Shenandoah Tri-M's 4-H Club was chartered at the Ketcham home in 1947. Coleen was a member of that club for 9 years earning several red and blue ribbons at both the Page County Fair and Iowa State Fair. She attended 4-H camp and was a member of the All State 4-H chorus her junior year.

On January 8 th , 1957, Coleen was united in marriage to Kay Russell Norton, son of Russell and Edna (Bright) Norton of Riverton, Iowa. They were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah and lived south of Riverton for two years when Kay was helping his father farm. Following, the couple moved to Shenandoah to start their family. Children born to that union were Jeffrey Lynn (1958), Gregory Alan (1960), Brian Russell (1964), and Kristin Ann (1978). Before Kay's passing in 2019, they celebrated 62 years of marriage, having lived in their home on Southview Boulevard from 1974 to 2019.

Coleen was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah. She was baptized, made her first communion, was confirmed, and was married in her parish church. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Guild, and she served 2 terms on the parish council and the board of education. Coleen and Kay remained active over the years, serving as greeters at Mass, helping with counting tithes, and folding bulletins. They frequently volunteered to help with bingo each month at Elm Heights Care Center after their retirement.

Coleen and Kay were members of Pairs & Squares square dance club for several years, which they truly enjoyed and where they made lifelong friendships. Coleen was an avid reader, loved to play cards, bake for her family and others, play computer games, take photos of her children and grandchildren and spend time with them. She loved to travel and took ceramics lessons for several years, sharing her crafts with her family and friends. A legacy she left to her entire family was a voluminous cookbook – The Ketcham Family Cookbook, which she finished in 2009. It included a family history and family recipes, many of them very old, which she garnered from as many family members as possible. The cookbook contained 256 pages, and she composed it all on her home computer.

Over the years, Coleen was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., Central Surveys and Central Travel Service (where she helped escort several bus tours); was secretary at the Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce; worked at Shenandoah Medical Clinic where she was secretary/bookkeeper for Dr. Floyd Jones; and Shenandoah High School where she started as a teacher's aide, working up to secretary to the principal. After her retirement, Coleen worked part-time for 11 years at Paper Trail, doing retail sales, some computer work and proofreading.

Coleen was a member of the Shenandoah JayceeEttes Club and Business & Professional Women. She served on the Coin Alumni Association for four years, keeping alumni records current and helping with mailings. She and Kay served as co-presidents of the Southwest Iowa Pioneers Association. In addition, she belonged to a women's bridge club for several years, and a Saturday night couples' card club for 35+ years.

Coleen was preceded in death by her parents and husband Kay, brother Robert Ketcham and wife Phyllis and nephew Daniel, and brother Marion Ketcham and wife Betty and nephew Patrick, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Russell and Edna Norton. Surviving are brother Donald and wife Marydel of Chanhassen, MN, brother Ronald and wife Katy of Maple Grove, MN. Her children, son Jeffrey and wife Deborah of Sidney, IA; Gregory and wife Karen of Adel, IA; Brian and wife Christi of Omaha; and daughter Kristin Dolezal and husband, Joseph of Yutan, NE. Grandchildren are, Joel Norton and wife Alison of Overland Park, KS; Jordan Norton and wife Julie of Loveland, CO; Andrew Norton and wife Lesley of Des Moines; Rachel Norton-Turk and husband Nathan of Omaha, NE and Collin Norton of Sidney, IA; Jeremy Norton of West Des Moines; Jessica and husband Evan Hammans of Adel, Matthew Norton and wife Sarah of Adel; Thomas Norton and wife Emily of Kansas City, MO, Kelsie, Mackenzie and Kaeden Norton of Omaha, NE; and Connor, Alexis and Nathan Engel and Jude and Joseph Dolezal of Yutan, NE. Coleen leaves eleven great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Loren Norton of Overland Park, KS, Emma and Aidan Norton of Loveland, CO, Lila and Wilder Norton of Des Moines, Elsie and Russell Norton of Adel, and Hazel, Lorelai, and Grafton Norton-Turk of Omaha. And numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved and was very proud.

Coleen loved her family and her Catholic faith and was steadfastly devoted to both. She will long be remembered as a kind and loving individual whose example of fidelity and moral integrity were woven into every day of her life. Coleen's examples of selflessness and humility are values she lived by no matter how difficult the situation. Her legacy will be carried forth by all of us who loved her and will miss her so dearly.