Obituary for James Addems Norman

James Addems Norman, 80, died Saturday, June 27th at his home in Windsor Heights from complications of liver cancer. Jim was born May 4,1946 in Clinton, Iowa to Hugh and Evelyn Turner Norman. His family moved frequently during his childhood, and he attended schools in Spirit Lake, Des Moines, Lincoln, NE; Colorado Springs, CO; and Adel. He graduated from Adel High School in 1964, where he was an Iowa high school champion in shot put and held the school record for sixty years. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1968, Drake Law School in 1975, and earned an MBA from the University of Iowa in 1991.

Jim served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to1973, attaining the rank of captain. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his service in Thailand with the 307^th Munitions Maintenance Squadron during the Viet Nam War.

Jim’s legal and business career included private legal practice in Adel, Assistant General Counsel at Meredith Corporation, General Counsel at Microware, Inc., President, ‘N Site Solutions, and IT Business Consultant at Wells Fargo Financial Services from which he retired in 2011.

While Jim earned his living in law and business, his passion (along with golf) was home renovation and remodeling. He re-did every room (at least once) in three houses for his family. For two years, while being treated for cancer, he drove to St. Louis almost every other weekend to help his son, and closest friend, Jake, remodel his basement. The project brought them both enormous joy during a difficult time. 

Jim is survived by his wife Sara Jane “Sally” Wisdom, their son Jacob (Carly) and grandchildren Miriam, Tyson, and Ruth of St. Louis, MO; his brothers Richard (Nina) of New Haven, CT, and Lee of Kansas City, MO and their families; his sister Gretchen of Des Moines, along with the extended Wisdom family, who will miss him greatly.

Excellent medical care allowed Jim to enjoy good quality of life more than four years after his cancer diagnosis. His family is grateful to Dr. Joshua Lukenbill and his team at Mission Cancer +Blood, Dr. Harry Fuentes Bayne and countless other medical professionals at the Mayo Clinic, and most especially Dr. Scott and Hannah Honsey, who cared for three generations of his family. The wonderful nurses at the UnityPoint Wound Care Clinic, UnityPoint at Home, and EveryStep Hospice made his last months peaceful and comfortable.

Jim’s cremains will be interred at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery.

Donations in Jim’s memory would be gratefully accepted at Camp Hantesa, 1450 Oriole Rd., Boone IA 50036.