Norman Eldon Fredrickson, son of Eldon and Frieda Fredrickson, was born on July 18, 1926 in the country, north of Meriden IA. He passed away at the age of 90, in his home in Okoboji, IA on December 10, 2016.

According to Norman's wishes, friends are encouraged to join the family for a celebration of Norman's life at the Meriden Evangelical Free Church on Saturday, December 17th, at 1:00 P.M. followed by a time of fellowship and a light lunch. Pastor Norm Erickson from Spirit Lake, Iowa will officiate. The family is invited to a prayer gathering preceding the service at 12:30 p.m. at the church and interment at Liberty Cemetery following the fellowship lunch. You may view the complete obituary and express your sympathy to the family at boothbyfuneral.com

The oldest of three children, Norman grew up in the Meriden area. He attended country school grades 1-8, and was chosen Representative Boy of his 1944 senior class. He married Carolyn Ladwig, of Quimby, in 1947. They had two children, Judy and Gene. As a young man, Norman helped his father in his trucking business, initially operating out of the homes garage. He served as the companies bookkeeper, eventually transitioning into dispatching trucks and buying and selling grain. In 1966, the father/son duo purchased the Quaker Oats Elevator and Feed Business in Meriden. They subsequently expanded their storage capacity by adding multiple bins and combining the trucking business with the grain business. Norman was very entrepreneurial, and ultimately his businesses included Fredrickson Grain, Fredrickson Farms and Fredrickson Properties.

Norman was an active part of the community; serving as a volunteer fireman, and as a member of the town council, Meriden school board and IA Motor Truck Association.

As a man of faith, he was a long time member of the Meriden Evangelical Free Church, serving there in a variety of capacities including remodeling the original church building and in 1960, helping to build the new church and parsonage that exists today. Over the years he served in the church as Sunday School superintendent, church chairman, deacon and trustee. Norm was passionate about music and loved singing in the church choir and various smaller groups, often with family.

In 1983, following the deaths of his wife Carolyn and his brother Darwin, Norman married his sister in law, Joyce Fredrickson. After his retirement in 1991, they moved to Okoboji IA where they had enjoyed a summer place. There they joined the Spirit Lake Free Church where he again helped with the building of a new church facility. In Spirit Lake he enjoyed boating and the grandchildren were happy recipients of many hours on the Lake; tubing and jet skiing. In the evenings there was always a gathering around the table, and a raucous game of Rabbit where occasionally the grandkids let him win. There were many trips to New Zealand, Minneapolis, Cherokee and Bismarck in support of the grandchildren's activities and they all loved him dearly for his active involvement in their lives.

For the past 30 plus years, Norman and Joyce enjoyed wintering in Mesa AZ. At Sunland Village East he was active in the Village Community Chapel. As a senior he began to enjoy reading, golfing, and woodworking; always looking for something to keep busy! Norm developed a passion for playing pool in Mesa and found a way to continue playing when back in Spirit Lake. He was loved and respected by all his pool buddies, both north and south. He was active in the Spirit Lake Kiwanis. Even at 90, he loved blue grass , country, gospel and quartet music; especially when he could listen to it live. He never missed the Friday Jam sessions at Sunland Village East, no matter how bad they were.
Norman believed in the Biblical message that "Our life and times are in His Hands" (Psalm 31:15). Comforted by that but left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joyce; children Judy (Tony) Plews of Auckland, New Zealand; Gene (Marsha) Fredrickson of Batavia, IL; Ward (Barb) Fredrickson of Bismarck, ND; Darla (Loren) Wester of Meriden, IA, 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, sister Vanny Hughes of Cherokee and many extended family. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.