Norman Huhn

Henry Norman Huhn, 92, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, at his Cape Girardeau home, following a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will follow the visitation at 11 a.m. today at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to LCHAD Research, in care of Dr. Thomas Morgan, at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, 2200 Children's Way, Nashville, TN 37232.

Norman is survived by his wife of 68 years, Wilma Huhn; son, James Henry Huhn of Wentzville, Missouri; daughter, Debra Kay (Charles) Devers of Cape Girardeau; grandson, Will (Misti) Otto of Marble Hill, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Dallas, Samantha and Gus Otto; great-stepgrandchildren, Brianna and Aric Hobbs and Christian Johnson; sister-in-law, Betty Higgins of Cape Girardeau; brother-in-law, Louie Griffy of Cape Girardeau; and brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Felicia Griffy of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Norman was born Dec. 13, 1925, to Henry A. Huhn and Norma Ludwig Huhn of Cape Girardeau.

He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School and joined the Air Force during World War II. He envisioned serving overseas, but never left Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, where he washed his fair share of aircraft and also found time to enjoy a nearby greyhound race track.

After returning to Cape Girardeau following military service, Norman managed the bustling Greyhound bus station on South Spanish Street, during a time when bus travel meant coats and ties for the men and hats and stylish shoes for the ladies.

It was at the bus station Norman was smitten by a pretty young schoolteacher on her way home to Marston, Missouri, from her teaching post in Grand Tower, Illinois. Romance blossomed, and on Aug. 6, 1949, he and Wilma Louise Griffy were married in St. Louis.

Realizing the growing popularity of leisure travel, Norman established Sunnyland Travel in 1960. Thousands of high-school seniors saw the U.S.A., not from a Chevrolet, but with Sunnyland on historical and scenic tours throughout the United States.

Under Norman's business acumen, Sunnyland enjoyed a healthy growth, spinning off to become Panorama Travel in the 1980s, which expanded to focus on adult and senior-citizen tours in the United States and Canada. He and Wilma escorted one tour to Europe, enjoying the sights every bit as much as their tour guests. One of Norman's favorite tours was his popular "mystery" tour, where trusting guests boarded the motor coach knowing only that they were going some place fun.

Norman's community involvement included the Exchange Club, Investment Club and Good Shepard Lutheran Church.

By far, grandson Will was Norman's pride and joy. He taught Will how to fish and which ones were "keepers," as well as how to embrace nature and the great outdoors, a passion Will has passed along to his children.

Norman worked hard and played hard. One of his favorite playgrounds was beautiful Sam A. Baker State Park, where he cast his rod and reel into the St. Francis River, boated on Clearwater Lake and took leisurely float trips with his beloved Dalmatians, Spuds and Spike, on Big Creek.

Everyone defines the good life in a different way, but for Norman it was surely tubing on Big Creek on a warm summer day, armed with a good cigar and an ice cold Budweiser. Tubing often was followed by a festive, welcome-everyone barbecue at the family cabin at Stoney Battery, where asking for seconds was not the exception, but the expected. And Norman basked in that well-deserved barbecue glory.

And then there was the never-forgotten medicine mix up, a family story that still evokes laughter today. Norman and his fur friend Spuds underwent serious surgeries at the same time. When they returned home, for three days Norman took Spuds' medicine and Spuds took Norman's medicine. Neither was worse for the wear.

Norman enjoyed life to the fullest. There were Friday-night dinners with friends, lively games of pinochle, catching St. Louis Cardinals games in the stands or on television and vacationing in Daytona Beach, Florida. Life for Norman was a journey, sometimes not knowing what lay around the next bend, but confident it would be worth the trip. It always was.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.