Norma Alice Rannels

Norma Alice Jensen Rannels, of Clearwater, Florida, formerly of Columbia, Maryland, passed away on Friday at her daughter's residence in Ohio after a courageous four year battle with lung cancer. She was 88.  Born Norma Alice in Eastport, Maryland, she grew up the daughter of Danish immigrants - Johan Norman and Emmy Ingeborg Muusfeldt Jensen.  Her parents met in New York where Johan had settled after being in Denmark's Royal Navy. Ingeborg came to New York as a cook's assistant in 1913 through Ellis Island. While at Annapolis High School, Norma became interested in business, so she worked in the school office and took papers to the teachers each day.  That fall, Norma began taking the train from Annapolis to Baltimore daily to go to Strayer Business College in Baltimore, MD.  Upon graduation, she worked as a secretary for J.F. Murry plumbing, then Chevrolet Motors, both of Baltimore, before working as secretary in the personnel office of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.  Norma & Morris married in 1942.  Norma became a fulltime homemaker raising six children, "none unwanted and never too many" said Norma.  When the children became school age, she volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels and many other organizations.  She enjoyed the local garden club as well as seeing friends with a challenge of bridge on a monthly basis.  Norma retired with her husband to Clearwater, Florida, in 1978.  She enjoyed close friendships with new neighbors as well as visiting family and friends.  She volunteered at Morton Plant Hospital.  She and her husband enjoyed many trips all over the world.  Just days before his passing, they celebrated 65 years of marriage. Norma is survived by James and his wife Cindy, Constance Kerr and her husband William, Norman and his wife Betty, Jo Ann Bankert and her husband Neuman, Vickie Stofel and her husband Steve and Morris Jr and his wife Lynn.  Norma was also blessed by 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.