Norman Peyton-UPDATED

Norman Dale Peyton, 81, of Dows passed away Friday, November 20, 2020 at his home following a recent diagnosis of cancer.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at the Dows Community Center. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, attendance at visitation will be limited to 15 indoors and 30 outdoors at all times.

Those in attendance are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be accepted and directed to First Lutheran Church in Dows, Dows United Methodist Church, Dows Community Center, Dows Lion’s Club, and Dows American Legion.

Norman, the son of Marvin and Elaine (Moore) Peyton, was born on December 5, 1938 in rural Franklin County and baptized in the Dows United Methodist Church. Norman grew up in the Dows area and attended Vernon Township Country School #2 through 3rd grade. He then attended town school in Dows and graduated from Dows High School in 1956. During his senior year of high school, Norman rented 80 acres from Doc Schnug near Popejoy, Iowa and also started farming with his father and then with his brother, Bill and they worked side by side together for 44 years.

Norman married his high school sweetheart, Carlene Schager, on September 13, 1958 at the First Lutheran Church in Dows. They lived and farmed for 2½ years southwest of Dows on the Carl Spellmeyer farm before moving to the Sid and Willard Mendell farm just east of town in February 1961 where they lived, raised their family, and farmed until moving into Dows in 1995.

As a young man, in addition to farming, Norman worked part-time jobs including as an FFA usher at the Iowa State Fair, at the Dows Co-op, driving truck for Bud Korth, and he also worked nights at Arrow-Acme in Webster City with some other young farmer friends for several years. He helped his father-in-law, C.B. Schager, with his Pioneer seed business and in 1973 Norman began his own career selling seed for Pioneer in the Dows area. In 1973, Norman and Carlene purchased the Mendell farm and in 1978, they purchased and operated the Dows Bowling Alley for a few years where he also sold seed corn until he built his new building in 1980. Norman really enjoyed working with the farmers, especially the young farmers just starting out, and many may remember his office as a friendly, welcoming place to gather for coffee, play cards, and just stop in for a visit. He was an eternal optimist and many may also remember a sign which hung in his office, “Optimism Spoken Here”. He truly enjoyed helping others and many have remembered how encouraging he was to them over the years, reassuring them that “it will all work out”.

Norman was a very active supporter of his community. He was a current member of the Dows Lions’ Club for 47 years, a member of Farm Bureau, and the Iowa Falls Elks Club. In the past he had served on the council of the First Lutheran Church and been a member of the Jaycees and the Dows Booster Club. He served on the Dows Corn Days committee and parade committee for many years and in 1997 Norm and Carlene were named Grand Marshals for the parade. He served on the Dows School Board and the Swimming Pool Board during the time when a new pool was built in town. He and Carlene were also founding investors and he was a board member of the Dows Junction truck stop. He also assisted in obtaining a grant to spearhead the Dows Community Center building and helped continue the Dows Grocery Store when it was in danger of closing. Norman and Carlene also regularly organized high school class reunions for their classmates and enjoyed keeping up with their many dear friends from Dows High.

Early in their marriage, Norman and Carlene enjoyed going dancing together, belonged to a card club, and enjoyed getting together with their friends. Norman was an avid Cyclone fan and he and Carlene attended football, basketball, and wrestling meets at Iowa State for 32 years. They also cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Western Illinois Leathernecks, Arizona State Sun Devils, and Drake Bulldogs when grandchildren attended school there. Norm adored his family and loved attending his children’s and later his grandchildren’s school activities and athletic events and rarely missed one.

Norman is survived by his son Flint (Judy) Peyton of Keokuk and their children Ryan Horner and daughter Kendra, and friend (Erica Shipe and children Brenden, Jordan and Max) of Keokuk and Ashley (Zach) Hinkle and their children Austin and Sophia of Kansas City; daughter Kristin (James Strohman) Peyton of Ames and their children Isaac (Kelsey) Strohman and their daughter Ava of Des Moines, Ambrose Strohman and friend (Carley Hersom) of Tempe, Arizona, Stella Maris Strohman and Endylion Strohman both of Des Moines; brother Bill (Sondra) Peyton, sister Mary Castino; sister-in-law Amber Jill Schager; brother-in-law Roger Schager; along with extended family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Carlene, parents, parents-in-law C.B. and Ruby Schager; infant sister; brother-in-law Craig Schager; sisters-in-law Linda Schager and Evadne Schager, and brother-in-law Frank Castino.

Ewing Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements for a visitation on December 5, 2020 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Dows Community Center. They will also be in charge of the arrangements for a funeral service and lunch in the future when it is safe again to gather. Since Norm was such a fan of the Iowa State Cyclones and hosted so many family and friends at his and Carlene’s tailgates, the family plans to hold one final tailgate as a tribute to Norm at the lunch following the funeral service. Traditional tailgate food will be served but, of course, “nothing fishy, fowl, or wild.” At that time guests will be encouraged to wear their favorite ISU or Pioneer apparel to the funeral and tailgate. Norm always did enjoy a good rivalry and razzing his friends, therefore it would also be acceptable for guests to wear their own favorite team apparel. However, should any guests arrive wearing Hawkeye, Nebraska, or DeKalb apparel, they can expect to be seated in the back.

Norman’s family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mike Ewing and his staff, Gateway Hospice nurse Jolene and staff, Pastor Laurel Meester, Bill and Sondra Peyton, Jo Ellen Reasoner, and Angie Lienamann for the loving care and comfort you provided to Norm and our families during these past several weeks. Because of you, we were able to help him remain in the comfort of his own home with family and friends surrounding him throughout his illness. And thanks to all of you, we were able to be with our father at the time of his passing which meant a lot to us.

Click here to visit Ewing Funeral Home.