Norma Neitzke

Norma J. Neitzke, 78, Detroit Lakes, MN, died Friday, March 6 at Meritcare Hospital in Fargo, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 11 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Fr. Jerry Rogers, officiating. Interment will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery. Friends may call 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 10 with a Catholic Daughters/Christian Mothers Rosary at 6:30 and parish vigil at 7:00 PM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the mass at the church on Wednesday.


Norma Jean Courneya was born April 2, 1930 in Detroit Lakes, MN to Garnett and Myrtle (Fingalson) Courneya. She was a 1949 graduate of Detroit Lakes High School. She received a scholarship to the Gerrard School of Music in Chicago, IL. She worked for the Wilcox Lumber Yard in Detroit Lakes. Norma was united in marriage to Dr. Joseph G. Neitzke June 9, 1952 in Detroit Lakes. She taught piano lessons for Mathison Music Store. With her mother having died when Norma was 16 years old, she raised her five siblings prior to starting her own family. Norma was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters and Christian Mothers. She enjoyed music, reading, athletics, her children’s activities, genealogy, cooking, collecting dolls and being with people.


Survivors include her husband, Dr. Joseph Neitzke of Detroit Lakes; children, Gregory (Cindy) Neitzke of Eden Prairie, MN, Debra Gustafson of St. Paul, MN, Michael Neitzke of Hermosa Beach, CA, Stephen (Sandy) Neitzke of Detroit Lakes Barbara (Scott) Johnson of Detroit Lakes; three grandchildren, Nathaniel Neitzke, Samuel Neitzke and Matthew Gustafson; three brothers, Wayne (Marilyn) of Minneapolis, Curtis (Shirley) of Fridley, MN, Bob of Minneapolis, MN; sister, Janice (David) Mickelson of Frazee, MN and a brother-in-law, Howard Westlie of Detroit Lakes. She was preceded in death by an infant child and a sister, Bette Westlie.