Name:
Dr. Norma R. Kelly
Birth Date & Death Date
July 30th, 1938 - July 7th, 2010
Obituary:
Morton - Dr. Norma R. Kelly, 71, of Morton, passed away at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at her home. Born July 30, 1938, in Avon, Ill., to Harry and Helen (Ridle) Spangler, she married Dr. Charles Kelly in 1961. She later married A.J. Gatzemeyer in 1987. He survives. Also surviving are three children, Kathleen (Mark) Kaphaem and Kara Kelly, both of Morton, Kevin Kelly of Peoria; granddaughters, Shannon and Caitlin Kaphaem; three stepchildren, Brian (Jean) Gatzemeyer, Michelle (Michael) Penn and Lee (Kelly) Gatzemeyer; seven step-grandsons, Joe, Henry, Ethan, Davis, Avery, Brad, Tommy; two step-granddaughters, Jane and Hannah; her brother, Richard (Ellen) Spangler; and two nephews, Richard Spangler and David Spangler. She was preceded in death by her parents. Norma was a registered nurse and received her diploma from St. Francis School of Nursing, her BSN from Avila College in Kansas City, her MSN from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her Ph.D. from Illinois State University. She worked at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Menorah Medical Center in Kansas City and at hospitals in Macomb. She also taught nursing at St. Francis School College of Nursing from 1972 to 1974 and 1977 to 1993. In 1993, she joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Peoria Regional Program. In 1995, she became Director of the Program. Norma received the Golden Lamp Teaching Award for the UIC Peoria Regional Program six times. For six years, she was on the board of the Center for Prevention of Abuse and served as treasurer for one year. She volunteered as an Advocate/Counselor Volunteer for the center. Norma was a member of the Midwest Nursing Research Society; American Nurses Association; Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Theta Tau (Epsilon Epsilon Chapter), an honorary association of nurses; and the American Heart Association, where she served as a CPR instructor. In these organizations, she was a member of many committees. She was a pilot and a certified flight instructor for many years and was a member of the International Flying Nurses Association. She piloted single-engine and twin-engine planes and was a commercial pilot for several years. She was the recipient of the Distinguished Career Award from Illinois State University and the Outstanding Alumni in Leadership Award from the St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in 2008. Norma was a member of First United Methodist Church in Peoria.

Memorials:
University of Illinois Foundation for the Norma R. Kelly Scholarship Fund and mailed to UIC College of Nursing, Peoria Regional Program, One Illini Drive, Peoria, IL 61605
Cemetery:
Resurrection Mausoleum
7519 N. Allen Road
Peoria, IL 61614 (map/driving directions)
Visitations:
1:00PM to 4:00PM on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at Knapp - Johnson Funeral Home (map/driving directions)
9:00AM to 9:45AM on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at First United Methodist Church (map/driving directions)

Services:
10:00AM at First United Methodist Church on Monday, July 12th, 2010 (map/driving directions)