Norman VanGennip

Norman Joseph VanGennip, 99, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Glennon, Missouri, to the late Alfred Bernard and Mary Beel VanGennip Sr. He was the youngest of 10 children.

Norman attended Glennon School and was a parishioner of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran, having served in Okinawa, Japan, during World War II from 1944 to 1946. He returned home to work on the family farm, where he retired. Norman also worked part time for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office.

Norman and Mary "Imogene" Stowers were united in marriage June 13, 1953, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. She preceded in death Nov. 18, 2016. They celebrated 63 years of marriage and shared their love with four children, Beverly, Cathy, Danny and David.

Norman was a talented baseball player. He coached his sons and friends in Little League baseball. He was inducted into the Southeast Missouri Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Norman enjoyed watching any Woodland or Advance, Missouri, ballgame, especially when his grandchildren were playing.

Norman and Imogene did everything together and made sure to attend school events of their many grandchildren and, later, even great-grandchildren. They loved playing bingo, and he called many games at the Advance Knights of Columbus Hall. Norman served as a fourth-degree Grand Knight, and he was active in the VFW. Norman was very patriotic, loved his country and got to attend the Honor Tour in Washington, D.C., with fellow World War II veterans. Norman enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with his family. He looked forward to his annual pheasant hunting trip to Nebraska with sons and family.

After Imogene passed, Norman moved to Cape Girardeau to live with his daughter, Cathy, and her family. Norman was very appreciative of his caregivers, and the highlight of his day was taking drives in the country and visiting the family farm.

Survivors of the home include a daughter, Cathy VanGennip Prost; granddaughter, Tera Thornberry; and great-grandson, Gabriel Thornberry. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Additional survivors include a sister-in-law, Eula VanGennip, and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews, who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; three children, Beverly Johnson, Danny VanGennip and David VanGennip; five sisters, Mary (Joe) Laurentius, Clara (Louis) Elfrink, Rose VanGennip, Anna (Steve) Kardasz and Agnes (Ed) Nenninger; four brothers, Alfred (Alma) VanGennip, John (Frances) VanGennip, Elmer VanGennip and Louis (Alfreda) VanGennip; daughter-in-law, Darlene VanGennip; son-in-law, Johnny Johnson; and brother-in-law Robert (Lavern) VanGennip.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, at St. Anthony's Church in Glennon.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the church, with the Revs. William Hennecke and Antony Thekkanath officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to St. Anthony's Church, American Heart Association, ALS Foundation or American Cancer Society.

Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.