Norman Ray Kottwitz was born June 24, 1947, to Frank and Sarah (Miller) Kottwitz, the second oldest of eight children. Norman was born in Garden City, Kansas near Scott City where his family lived and farmed.
When he was 11 the family moved to Osceola where he lived most of his life. Growing up Norman helped on the family farm where, as he got older, his specialty was stacking the square bales of hay in the barn loft. Throughout his life Norman held many other jobs. At 18 he went to Job Corps in South Dakota where one of his jobs was firefighting. He returned to Osceola and worked in the Clinton area, Rival, Alva Allens, and for the Hutchison family farm, where he was treated like family.
Norman thrived on precision and was a strong mathematician which served him well as he also would work many years in the bulk fertilizer business for his dad. He was also instrumental in running the fescue seed buying business for many years there. Norman loved to share stories of his most memorable job of being an over the road truck driver. He later met and worked for Brown Salvage Yard owned by Ellis Brown and his wife, Diane, in Bolivar, with whom he became great friends.
Norman had a very analytical mind, which could sometimes frustrate people, but there was no doubt the amount of thought that he put towards any task at hand. As Norman got older and slowed down, he became helpful care giver and companion to his dad, until Frank’s passing in 2014. Most recently, Norman was like a grandpa to his good friend Ellis’ grandchildren, as Ellis and Diane had both passed on.
Norman loved to visit, especially with extended family and friends from Owensville, western Kansas, and around home. He always had many stories to tell from his various life experiences. One of his favorite ‘new’ things he loved was playing pitch with family.
Norman was a very dedicated servant at the Grace United Methodist Church in Osceola for years. He gave of his time freely whenever he was needed. His farewell message whether in person or on the phone was, ‘The Lord be with you’. He’s now at rest and at peace with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As Norman’s health began to fail over the last year or so, his sister Gladys became his primary caregiver and encourager. Norman will be greatly missed by his siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins, and his special little “grandchildren” he held dear to his heart.
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