Norma "Sue" Parsons
July 15, 2016
Norma “Sue” Elswick was born February 28, 1936 in Lamoni, Decatur County, IA., the daughter of Norman Francis and Etta Arleen Barton Elswick. She passed away, Friday, July 15, 2016 at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Polk Co., IA..
She attended Riley township country grade school and graduated from Lamoni, Decatur Co., Iowa high school in 1954, the Valedictorian of her class.
Sue graduated from Nurses training at Iowa Methodist Hospital in 1957. Her first job was at the hospital in Corydon, Wayne Co., IA.; she then went to the Ringgold County Hospital in Mt. Ayr, Ringgold Co., IA. She was then the surgical nurse at the Page County Hospital, Clarinda, Page Co., IA. It was there, in 1959 she was introduced to her future husband, Donald R. Parsons, by a nurse friend of her and Don. They were married October 2, 1960 in the Methodist Episcopal Church in New Market. They lived in New Market, Taylor Co., IA. where she continued to work in surgery and her husband operated an insurance agency. They were blessed with the birth of two children; a son, Donald Lee, now a commercial pilot, living with his family in St. Peters, MO; and a daughter, Donna Sue, now Dr. Donna Sue Parsons, a professor at the University of Iowa. Donald Lee and his wife, Gina have two children; son, Skyler Thomas and daughter, Lindsay Elizabeth. She dearly loved her children and was always interested and participated in their activities.
Don and Sue moved to Norwalk in 1967 and she was employed as a nurse at Iowa Methodist Hospital. She acquired her BS through the University of St. Francis, while still working. She retired from there and continued to live in Norwalk. She enjoyed listening to country music and Daniel O’Donnell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Barton and a sister, Sharon Elswick. Norma is survived by her husband, Donald of Norwalk; son, Donald Lee and family of St. Peters, MO. and daughter, Donna Sue of Iowa City, Johnson Co.., IA.; brother, Lyman G. Elswick of Maryville, Nodaway Co., MO.; sister, Sheila L. Grote of Nemaha, Sac Co., IA.; many nieces and nephews, other family and special friends.
She will be laid to rest at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Van Meter, Dallas Co., IA.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Cynthia Dabrieo
07/18/2016
Sorry to learn of your loss. I was a classmate at Iowa Methodist School of Nursing. Sue was very quiet and studied well to become a competent nurse. I know she will be missed.
Don & Sandy Hanson Whitmore
07/18/2016
Pokey, Don, & Donna, & family.
Our thoughts and prayer go out to you all. We enjoyed getting to know Sue better throughout the years since our Hankins cousin reunion.Enjoyed the phone calls & emails.I always thought I had a lot in common with Sue . Farm back ground and 4-H plus being a relative .Will miss you.
Erika Isley
07/18/2016
Don,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your wife, Sue. She was a special person and and I enjoyed the few chances I had to spend time with her.
My deepest condolences to you and your families. Erika
Karyl Martin
07/18/2016
Dear Don and family,
So very sorry and sad to hear about the loss of your wife, mother and grandmother. Sue was a very special person and will be missed greatly. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Karyl
SteveThomas
07/18/2016
So very sorry to read about your lose, Don and family! She was always so nice and friendly to me.
Suzanne Sissel Brown
07/18/2016
So sorry to read Sue's obituary in this morning's paper. Although Sue was much older than me, she was always a good friend to my mother and our family. Since our families were neighbors and friends, I have many good memories of our time together. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family.