Deborah Joyce Norton, age 70, of Wilton, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Bentley Funeral Home, Wilton. A private family burial will take place in Whitmer Cemetery, rural Tipton. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at Calvary Baptist Church, Muscatine. Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.
Deb was born on June 26, 1953, the daughter of Wilbert and Velma (Doyel) Petersen. She graduated from Wilton High School with the Class of 1971. Deb earned her teaching degree from the University of Iowa and later earned her Master's Degree from Western Illinois University. Deb married Bill Norton on Dec. 18, 1971, in Wilton.
Deb taught business at Wilton High School, where she also served as the High School Student Council Advisor, retiring in 2018 after 44 years of teaching. She was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church, Muscatine. Deb never missed one of her children or grandchildren's school activities. Deb had a way of connecting with people and making them feel loved. Her love for the Lord enabled her to be a comfort to all.
Deb will be dearly missed by her husband, Bill; five children, Andrea (Jeremy) Putman of Wilton, Katie (Shaun) Guyer-Chaffee of Wilton, Will (Amy) Norton of Cedar Rapids, Caleb Norton and Hayley Norton, both of Wilton; twelve grandchildren, Aubrey (Grant) Kuppler, Landyn, Bryer and Sawyer Putman, Audrey, Clayton and Emersyn Guyer, Maryn, Kellan and Vivi Chaffee, and Ellie and Whitmer Norton; two sisters, Susan (Dennis) Boorn of Wilton and Sharon (Jeff) Samuelson of Tipton; one brother, Douglas (Lori) Petersen of Bloomfield; and a brother-in-law, Tom Boorn of Moscow.
Deb was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbert and Velma; one sister, Janet Boorn; and one son-in-law, Jason Guyer.