12/26/2019
Norman Lee Den Hartog was born to John and Emma (Van Gorp) Den Hartog on February 5, 1929, in Pella, Iowa at home and moved to Knoxville in 6th grade. He was baptized at the 3rd Reformed Church in Pella. As a child, he loved playing outside sports and shunned indoor board games and reading. His dad had a variety store where he worked scooping candy until he ate too much of the candy and all the profits. He was subsequently demoted to wrapping gifts.
In high school, Norm was an Eagle Scout and an Order of the Arrow. He attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmeron, New Mexico where he was instructed to bring WWII ration stamps. He was a high school sports letter winner in football, basketball, and track.
Norm attended Central College on a football scholarship and was a starter on the Flying Dutchman football and basketball teams. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in education. Norm later received a master’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Norm married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Vander Berg in 1951. The children born of this union were Susan Lynn in 1957, Nancy Gay in 1960, and Mark John in 1964. Norm enjoyed setting up the brackets for the family Rook tournament every year. The family especially enjoyed traveling to many bowl games, Colorado and a special trip to Europe are particularly special memories. Marilyn passed away on July 30, 1998.
Norm taught physical education and elementary math and coached football, basketball, and baseball for one year in Sully, Iowa. He taught for 5 years in State Center where he also coached football and girls’ basketball taking the girl’s team to the state tournament in 1957. He taught middle school physical education and industrial arts and coached football and track in Storm Lake for 32 years.
Norm spent seven years in the Iowa National Guard. He was a member of the Thursday Morning Men’s Group at Northminster Presbyterian Church, NEA, ISEA, SLEA, and Kiwanis. He was a deacon and an elder in the Lakeside Presbyterian Church. Norm also scooped walks, repainted the railings, trimmed the bushes at Lakeside, and kept the keys in case the pastor got snowed in. Norm built or remodeled more than forty homes.
Norm married Harriet Seagren in 2001. They enjoyed traveling to several European countries, China, Israel, and Africa. They wintered in Mesa, Arizona for 15 years where Norm enjoyed the woodworking shop, working with stained glass, and remodeling houses.
Norm was known as a polite gentleman who was always interested in his friends’ families. He especially enjoyed making many craft items for his friends and his son’s patients. He loved chasing a golf ball and played in several bridge clubs. His two favorite sports teams were the Storm Lake Tornadoes and the Iowa State Cyclones. He enjoyed watching college football and basketball games on TV every weekend.
Survivors include his wife, Harriet Den Hartog, his children, Susan (James) Anderson, Nancy (Tom) Moore, Dr. Mark (Dana) Den Hartog, grandchildren, Matthew Anderson, Ashley (Ian) Smith, Amy (Matt) Fouch, Joshua Moore, Madeline Den Hartog, Samuel Den Hartog, Emma Den Hartog, great-grandchildren – Grayson Fouch, Adalyn Fouch, and Stella Smith,
Harriet’s children, Jody (Stuart) Sanders, Randall (Dianna) Miller Harriet’s stepchildren, Carol (James) Hawthorne, Reverend Kirk (Dr. Lilian) Seagren, Reverend William (Jenny) Seagren, Harriet’s grandchildren, Jordan Sanders, Jacob Sanders, Brittney Miller, Kyle Miller, Charlie Miller, Jane Ann Seagren, Hannah Seagren, Nathaniel Seagren, Sam Seagren, and Norman’s best friend and Uber driver from Ames, Bill Watson.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Marilyn.
The visitation will be from 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan 2, 2020, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan 3, 2020, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1416 20th Street, Ames, Iowa The burial will be held at Storm Lake Municipal Cemetery, Storm Lake, Iowa at 3:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2020.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com