Published on October 28, 2025 6:29 am
Last Updated on October 28, 2025 9:12 am
Norma Jean Bloemer, 75, of Effingham, peacefully passed away Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Willow Breeze Hospice House surrounded by her loving family.
Norma was born on August 11, 1950, at home in Bishop Creek, Illinois, the daughter of Leo and Eleanora (Habing) Worman. She graduated from Teutopolis High School in 1968 where she was awarded the Crisco Award for excellence in cooking and baking, skills with which she continually blessed and amazed her family and friends through the years. After high school, she attended Eastern Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1972. Later she went on to earn a Master of Science in Educational Administration, also from EIU. Prior to starting her teaching career, she married Oscar E. Bloemer on July 22, 1972, and they soon added a daughter, Emily, and a son, Matthew, to their family. She spent her entire 35-year career at Teutopolis High School where she taught home economics and life sciences. Norma was a person who knew her heart and her mind but never set out to impose her beliefs or expectations on others. As the fifth of ten children, she was adept at assessing when and how to be a helper, and she was always ready and willing to assist others, especially with complicated tasks or processes, when there was a need. Norma told her daughter that she was compelled to help others, especially her family members, by the example of her father, Leo Worman, who was her hero. She was the heart of her home, working hard and happily to make a comfortable home and life for her family. Not only was she an accomplished cook and baker, she was an excellent seamstress who sewed
much of her own and her children’s clothing when her children were young; she and her daughter would often go searching for just the right Simplicity or Butterick pattern for the next dress or outfit. Norma enjoyed outings with her family, often to the beach or pool or to the woods or campground. She delighted in making birthdays and holidays special for her children; there were always way too many Christmas gifts under the tree, but her children never complained. Along with all the attention she paid to her home and family, she also found time to nourish her own
interests, especially reading action/suspense novels – a love she passed along to her daughter – and gardening/landscaping – a talent she passed along to her son. Recently Norma was persuaded to pass along a couple of baking secrets to her family. She finally agreed to teach her son-in-law how to make her famous pies and to teach a couple of her grandchildren to make her delicious poppyseed bread. She adored her grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. She introduced them to four-wheeler riding, mushroom hunting, berry picking, and other activities that taught them to enjoy and appreciate nature. She greatly enjoyed attending their athletic and fine arts activities and was also immensely proud of their academic achievements. Her grandchildren knew that they could always rely on her and often sought her perspective, which they knew would be offered with love and a reassuring smile. She was the first person in her family to attend college, a decision that was solidified when her high school counselor, Mr. Green, put an EIU application in front of her one day while she was studying in the library, and said, “Fill this out. You are going to college. I’ve found a scholarship for you.” As an educator, Norma strived to inspire her students in the same way that Mr. Green had inspired her, and, to her great pleasure, many of her past students assured her over the years that her efforts were successful. Norma cherished her many friendships and enjoyed playing cards, having lunch, attending events, boating, or just sitting on the porch enjoying a beer with them. She was so grateful for the love and support of her friends and especially for how they rallied around her after her ALS diagnosis.
Norma is survived by her husband of 53 years, Oscar Bloemer; children, Emily (Kirk) Hartke and Matthew (Amy Robinson, daughter Haylee) Bloemer; grandchildren, Kyle (Katelyn Lybarger) Hartke, John Hartke, Kate Hartke, Mason Bloemer, Tyler Bloemer, Jacie Jewell, and Kacee Jewell; siblings, Gerald (Ann) Worman, Barbara Kremer, Carol (Terry) Bosley, Linda Koester, Dale (Kathy) Worman, Patrick Worman, and Julie Seaton; siblings-in-law, Joyce Worman, Darlene Esker, Ron (Vickie) Bloemer, Linda (Phil) Stalling, Shirley (David) Reha, Marilyn (Rem) Woodruff, Theresa (Bill) Hardiek, Rosalie (Tom) Westendorf, Patty (Joe) Jansen, Connie (Darrell) Brinkmann, Cindy (Chris) Fraterrigo, and Tony (Lisa) Bloemer, Mary Bloemer, Ron Wendt, Bruce Willenborg; and many nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Eleanora Worman; parents-in-law, Francis (Bud) and Marie Bloemer; siblings, James Worman and Lucille Worman; siblings-in-law, Bob Kremer, Dennis Koester, Randy Seaton, Don Bloemer, Carol Wendt, Julie Willenborg, and Louis Esker; nephew, Jay Koester; and niece, Samantha Seaton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham, IL, with burial at St. Anthony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2025 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Team Gleason Foundation (teamgleason.org.), a 501c3 organization that provides technology and equipment to people with ALS. Team Gleason provided invaluable support to Norma throughout her illness.