Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
View All Obituaries from Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
Norma Jean (Herge) Zorn, 90, of Sandusky, passed away in her home on Monday morning, March 23, 2020 while surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on September 10, 1929 in Findlay to the late Carlton and Beatrice (Rinehart) Herge.
She was a 1947 graduate of Findlay High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Bowling Green State University in 1951, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and a Master's of Education - Educational Administration & Supervision from Bowling Green State University in 1979.
Everyone's favorite teacher, Norma started as an art teacher at Milan Elementary. After that, she spent many years at Perkins Elementary and Sandusky High School. She ended her career as a supervisor and teacher of elementary art with Sandusky City Schools, formally retiring in 1987.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church (Union Corners), where she held many roles within the church, including Sunday school teacher, Member of Women of the Church, sang in the choir for 65 years, Secretary, Vice-President, President of the Congregation, and Chairman of the scholarship fund.
Norma was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Zonta Club, College Women's Club, Retired Teachers Association, and OAEA division chair. Norma and her husband, Louis, were also longtime members of the Sandusky Yacht Club, where decorating "Z-Boat" for the annual Regatta boat parade was always a highlight. Her elaborate decorations made from cardboard and imagination won them first prize year after year. She was Pinterest before it existed!
She shared her artistic talents with her church and any group or organization she belonged to. Not only did she play a vital role in the design of the current Erie County flag, she also did several ink drawings, designed and executed logos, and hand-lettered many signs, posters, name tags, and place cards. She painted the lighthouse, "A Light in the Harbor," located near SYC as part of the Public Art Exhibit in the summer of 2008.
She was also a passionate athlete in intramural basketball, volleyball, softball, and cheerleading. Over 50 years late, together with her sister, Mary, Norma finally earned her varsity letter in 2005 from BGSU as a pre-Title IX female athlete for synchronized swimming.
In addition to all these things, she cared so deeply for her family, keeping together their bonds, no matter the time or distance between them. When she brought us together everyone felt at home.
Norma is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Louis H. Zorn, whom she married on June 21, 1953 in Findlay; two daughters, Sherri Zorn and Laurie (Todd) Christman, both of Sandusky; four grandchildren, Nathan Harlan, Rachel (Mark) Geissbauer, Emily Christman, and Claire Christman; four great-grandchildren, Chloe, Grace, Jacob, and Lindsay; and many relatives and friends from a life well lived.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Mary Smart Higdon, Kay Bartel, and John Herge.
Burial will take place in St. John's Cemetery, and memorial services will be postponed until a time when it will be safe for her family and friends to gather and celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 106 Scheid Rd., Sandusky, OH 44870 or to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870. During this time, we encourage everyone to leave a condolence, memory, or picture by posting it to Norma's page on toftfuneralhome.com. This way, the family can be supported and find everything in one central place.
Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements.
