Norma Jean Kern Kirpes, 93, of Dubuque, died peacefully in her sleep June 8, 2026, at Bethany Home.

Visitation will be at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 4:30‒7:30pm, with rosary being led at 4:15pm by the Court Isabella #572 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Mary’s Church, Galena, IL.

Mass of Christian burial will be at the Church of the Nativity at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, with Fr. Dwayne Thoman officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Norma Jean was born January 7, 1933, to Albert F. and Marie (Trumm) Kern in Ryan, Iowa. In 1943, she and her family moved to Galena, Illinois. Norma Jean graduated from Galena High School. She was a member of the Galena Red Cross Chapter as well as a 75-year member of Court Isabella #572 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Through these organizations, she traveled to many states including California and Nebraska. After high school, she worked for Hansgen law firm for four years. Then she worked at Dubuque Savings and Loan, which is where she met her future husband, Raymond L. Kirpes. After reading a book about Amelia Earhart in childhood, she wanted to fly. In 1958, she fulfilled this dream as she went onto McConnell flight attendant school in Minneapolis, MN. Norma Jean then became a flight attendant for Ozark Airlines, based in St. Louis, MO, and flew until she left to join Ray back in Dubuque. They were united in marriage May 9, 1959, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Galena, IL, and made their home in Dubuque.

Norma Jean was a long time 4-H Leader for the first urban 4-H club in the state of Iowa in the city of Dubuque; a Boy Scout volunteer; a member of the Nativity parish guild, co-chairing two fall festivals, and was a Bingo worker; an Omnibus Leader for students at Nativity Grade School; a school board member for Nativity Elementary School and Wahlert High School; and a March of Dimes volunteer. She enjoyed nature and organic gardening. Family was everything to Norma Jean, and she loved to cook for and having family gather in her home.

Norma Jean is survived by her seven children: Martha (John) of Ann Arbor, MI; Steven (Irma) of Edinburg, TX; Paul (Lori) of West Des Moines, IA; Roger (Christine) of Cedar Rapids, IA; Anne (Jack) of Maple Grove, MN; James (Theresa) of Cedar Rapids, IA; and John (Liz) of Dubuque, IA; 17 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and siblings, Jerome Kern, Leo Kern, Marilyn Kern Burdt, Donna Kern Gentry, and Ronald Kern.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Holy Family Catholic Schools (Dubuque), the Church of the Nativity, the Sisters of St. Francis (Dubuque), Hospice of Dubuque, Bethany Home, and the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Norma Jean’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Bethany Home and Hospice of Dubuque.