Norman Stamm

NORMAN DUANE STAMM

December 7, 1944 – March 26, 2025

Verona has lost one of it’s native sons. Norman “Norm” Stamm, age 81, was born here in 1944 and made his life here. He died peacefully in his sleep March 26, 2025, in his Verona apartment.

Norm grew up in Verona when it was still a bucolic country village of fewer than a thousand people nestled among dairy farms and corn fields. A time before television when boys spent their days roaming freely on their bicycles. As soon as Norm could swing a bat and catch a football, he was engaged in pickup ball games in the many vacant lots around town.

By the time he arrived at high school in 1959 Norm was ready to play … he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. There may be a few classmates still around who recall how fast he came charging around the left end as the football team's running back.

Norm also grew up working. During those years, boys were not accustomed to receiving allowances. He did odd jobs with his older brothers, Keith and Gary; mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling out driveways, anything to make a dime for the pop cooler. Norm even lived on a dairy farm for a while where he helped with the usual farm chores.

Norm was very observant and quite adept. One day his older brothers were asked to start up their grandfather's old pickup and deliver some seed corn to a field for their dad. They were both unable, but Norm spoke right up, “I can.” He started the engine and headed in that direction. The only problem was Norm was too short to see where he was going and couldn't reach the brake pedal, so around and around the field he went with everyone running to stay out of his way.

Norm graduated from high school during the Viet Nam War and was immediately eligible for the draft. He did not wait for his notice. Instead, Norm joined a local Army reserve unit and went to cook school after a brutally cold winter of basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Cooking became a skill that served him well throughout his life.

On returning from Army Reserve training Norm needed some direction to his life, which came early one morning when his dad awoke him with the words, “Young man get up and get in the truck.” That very day he became an employee of Stamm Electric, his father Roman (Romie) Stamm's business. Norm learned the trade from his dad, eventually taking over the business. He went on to work for other local electric contractors before joining a Madison firm that required membership in the area electrical workers union. This meant that despite his twenty-some years of experience Norm had to pass a test that demonstrated he was qualified. He was non plussed but took the test and scored 100 percent. Now the union was non plussed: no one could remember anyone else ever achieving that score.

Norm began his life as a family man in 1966 when he married the love of his life, Bonnie Johnson, also a life-long Verona resident. They were married at Verona Lutheran Church, the same church that pioneering members of Norm's mother's family helped to found in 1886.

Norm and Bonnie settled down to a long and rich family life, acquiring property and building a new home on a country road south of Verona. They wanted room for their children and their dogs, space for a vegetable garden and lot and lots of flowers. It became a favorite gathering place for family and friends.

Years later they also acquired a lakeside cottage on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, WI, a place where the family could pursue their interests in the outdoors, especially fishing. Eventually, son Barry married, there were grandchildren, and they all spent time together at “the cabin” at every opportunity.

After Norm retired in 2008 much of his life centered around his grandchildren. By this time, they were living in a new house next door. It was easy to go back and forth, so the grandchildren were often at Norm and Bonnie's. They were good listeners and advisers and were always available to take them to school and to all kinds of interesting places . . . museums and aquariums, road trips to Colorado, Missouri and Oregon. Rowan, who is now a Wisconsin musky fishing guide, credits his early fishing experiences with Norm with setting him on this path. And Sawyer credits him with kindling his interest in pursuing higher education at Madison Technical College.

A third grandson, Charlie, born in 2023, brought much delight to Norm's final years.

Norm's life was not free of loss and pain. Their beloved daughter Aimee was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2002, a tragic loss from which they never fully recovered. His wife Bonnie died in 2024 after a lengthy illness. Norm was in later years beset with heart issues and worsening of his asthma. None of these prevented him from being the generous and thoughtful person he was, nor did it quiet his infectious laugh.

He is survived by son, Barry (Carrie); grandsons, Rowan, Sawyer and Charlie; a brother, Keith (Kathleen); sister-in-law, Linda (widow of brother Gary); niece, Teresa and nephew, Mitchell (Mitch).

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Bonnie; their daughter, Aimee; parents, Roman and Margaret Stamm; his brother, Gary; and niece, Colleen.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 220 Enterprise Drive, Verona. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will be held following services at 5th Quarter in Verona from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Verona Chapel

220 Enterprise Drive

608-845-6625