Norma Jeanette (Broberg) Isakson

Norma Jeanette (Broberg) Isakson, of Fountain City, WI passed away peacefully on March 8, 2022, surrounded by family. She resided in the loving adult foster home operated by her niece Cathy and her husband Daryn in Rochester, Minnesota.
Norma was born Jan. 13, 1928, at home to Judith (Broberg) Larson and Vernon Broberg in Burns Township, Bangor, WI.
She graduated from Dassel High School with honors and married Norman E. Isakson on March 27, 1946, at the Chapel of Fort Snelling, St Paul, Minnesota. Their married life began while Norman was in the Army, and the couple lived on an army base in Maryland. They later moved to Wheaton, Minnesota where Norman’s career started with the telephone company. At that point, they had 4 children.
Norman’s job with the phone company took the family to Fountain City, Wisconsin, where their family grew to 10, as they now had 8 children. Not only was Norma a devoted wife and mother, but she always found time to give to others.
Norma was very active St Michaels Lutheran Church and held various offices of the Ladies Aid over the course of 22 years, including serving as the group’s President for 14 years. She was also a member of the choir and taught Sunday school. Norma also donated her time to the community as an election officer, member of the VFW Auxiliary, worked at the Buffalo Lutheran Elementary School, Ye Old School House store, Good Shepard Thrift Shop, Cochrane-Fountain City High School newsletter, and even dressed as a pilgrim to serve 1,600 meals at the C-FC Thanksgiving meal.
Norma held several jobs during her lifetime, including working as a waitress at Wally’s Supper Club, Williams Industries, serving as a telephone operator and working at Knitcraft in Winona.
When Covid-19 hit, Norma was living at Sugar Loaf Assisted Living in Winona, Minnesota where she was well cared for and kept safe. Due to the pandemic, Norma was isolated and ate her meals alone in her room for more than nine months. Her grandchildren stepped up and had a “cousins call” every Tuesday night at 6:30 where they would FaceTime with Grandma. It was just the older cousins because if they would all be on the iPad the screen couldn’t have them all on the same screen.
Norma is survived by seven children: Judy McCormick (and friend Ken Hutchison), of Winona, MN; Paul (Sandy) Isakson, of Fountain City, WI; Linda (Patrick) Anderson, of St. Charles, MN; Gloria (Jeffrey) Rybacki, of DePere, WI; William (Shelly) Isakson, of Fountain City, WI; Diane (Tony) Caldwell, of Winona, MN; James (Deanne) Isakson, of Portage, WI, as well as 20 grandchildren, Robert Christopherson, Sarah (Jamie) Ressel, Becka Randall, Laura (Jaron) Cook, Michael (Renee) Isakson, Ryan Isakson, Danielle (Luke) Fischenich, Jennifer (Frank) Spaeth, April (Travis) Steffan, Teri (Daniel) Wussow, Kendra (Bret) Lemm, Jason (Jill) Rybacki, Jamie Isakson, Damien Isakson, Penny (Jason) Koenig, Shawn Adler, Joshua (Natasha) Isakson, Korey (Skylar) Isakson, Erik Isakson, Nicole Isakson. She is survived by 29 great grandchildren, 1 sister Carol (Al) Christopher, 3 brothers Harold Broberg, Everett (Sue) Broberg, and Arlan Broberg and by many nieces and nephews and special friend Judy Bohlen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Norman and one son Randall Isakson, five brothers: Curtis, Lee, Vilas, Daryl and Harley Broberg and three sisters Margaret Bonnette, Doris Marshall, Barbara Haefel.
Visitation was held Saturday, March 12, from 9:30 am to 11:30 at St Michaels Church in Fountain City, Wisconsin and the services will be at 11:30. A luncheon followed.
Burial will be held at Fountain City Public Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials in Norma’s name would be appreciated to St. Michael’s Ladies Aid; Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, www.fpwr.org; PKD Foundation (Polycystic Kidney Disease) at www.pkdcure.org
We are forever grateful to Cathy and Daryn Ruggeberg and Seasons Hospice for providing excellent and loving care in the last days of Norma’s life. She lived her life with amazing grace, always reaching out to everyone with love, compassion and acceptance. She touched more lives than any of us can even imagine.