West Liberty, Iowa Leota Pearl (Hildebrand) Nortman, 92, passed away June 16 at the Simpson Memorial Home after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held 1 P.M. Saturday June 20, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty with Rev. Dennis Martin officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday from 9 to 11 A.M. at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Liberty. A memorial fund has been established. Leota was born December 29, 1916 in Atalissa the daughter of Grover Guy and Harriet Arnold Hildebrand. She was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1934. On October 9, 1937 she was united in marriage to Charles Nortman in West Liberty. They enjoyed a honeymoon to Chicago on the maiden trip of the Rock Island Rocket. Leota and Charlie lifelong residents were very committed to their church life at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Leota with the Alter & Rosary Society. Their favorite pastime was a game of golf. They were founding members, 50 years ago this month, of the West Liberty Country Club, where they organized leagues, tournaments, and bridge marathons. Many afternoons and evenings were spent with bridge clubs and playing other card games. She is survived by her seven children: John (Carol) Nortman of Ballwin, MO, Andrea Christensen of North Liberty, Butch (Karen) Nortman of West Liberty, Michael Nortman of Muscatine, Dan (Ann) Nortman of Lincoln, NE, Harriet (Ken) Hald of West Liberty, and Mary (Leon) Larson of West Liberty. Charlie and Leota shepherded these children through the West Liberty schools for thirty-four years, often donating much time and energy to 4-H, Cub Scouts, the Choral Auxiliary, and numerous opportunities to chaperone. In later years she enjoyed visits with all of her sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings include Lester (Pat) Hildebrand of Yellville, AR and Dorothy Phelps of West Liberty. Leota was preceded in death by her husband Charles in 1999, three brothers and two sisters, an infant grandson, and her son-in-law Allen Christensen.