Bruce Anthony Norris was born on a farm near Magnolia, IA on August 21, 1931, the first child of Victor Morton Norris and Rosalie Elizabeth Cross. On November 19, 1955, Bruce was joined in marriage to Dione Blair Norris in Kansas City, Missouri. Bruce attended Magnolia Consolidated School that was built when his grandfather, Harry Norris, was School Board President. He graduated from High School in 1949 and attended college at Morningside College in Sioux City graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1953. He took additional classes from Iowa State, Dana, Drake, University of South Dakota and Omaha U. Bruce began his teaching career in 1955 after serving two years in the United States Army as a Military Policeman. In addition he served as Company Clerk, Battalion Organist and Battalion Court Reporter. He was discharged in 1955 and began teaching at Otto, Iowa Public Schools where he taught for two years. In 1957, he began teaching at Mondamin Consolidated High School which was later reorganized as West Harrison High School. He served as band/vocal teacher and at the end of his teaching career, 7-12 vocal. His musical groups won many honors during his tenure. He consistently placed students in All State Groups, many superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble Contest as well as Large Group Contest. His choir was selected as one of the Twelve Choirs of Christmas and presented a 30 television concert on Iowa Public TV. Several of his groups were featured at various music organizations. He was the first Southwest Iowa educator to be awarded the Robert M. McCowen Memorial Award in 1991. Bruce was Secretary-Treasurer for the Iowa Choral Directors Association for 25 years. He also served as Liaison Chair for Large Groups and formulated the required contest list for Iowa Large Groups at Contests. He also authored a suggested list for Piano Solo/Piano Duet literature for the Iowa Piano Contest. Bruce was a regular clinician at Summer Conventions in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota where he presided over reading sessions and chaired a Panel Discussion on the Perils of First Year Teachers. He was an adjudicator for music contests in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. In 2003, Bruce was awarded the Outstanding Music Educator Award for the states of Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. He also served as Recording Secretary for the North Central ACDA for a period of 10 years. He retired from active teaching in 1994 and served on the West Harrison School Board for a period of five years and served as its President for two years. In 1994 he served as a volunteer voice teacher for schools in Council Bluffs, Atlantic and Loma public schools. He has been a mentor for many First Year Music Teachers. Bruce is a long time member of Iowa Choral Directors, Sons of Union Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution. He was President of the Mondamin Senior Citizen Housing, served for many years on the Mondamin Library Board and was President when the new library was built. He served on the Mondamin Betterment Committee, was chair for fund raisers, and built the first Park Shelter House. He was Administrative Chair for Mondamin United Methodist Church for many years and was organist at the church for many years. Bruce and Dione moved to Harmony Court Retirement Housing and Bruce began a choir there and served as President of the Residents Association for six years. He was preceded in death by his parents and half-brother LeRoy Anderson. Bruce is survived by his wife, Dione, of Council Bluffs, Iowa daughter, Amy Norris-Kunter and her husband Henry of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, granddaughters, Kristin Rohlfing and her husband Sean of Kansas City, Missouri, Emily Johnson of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, sister; Corinne Tupper of Logan, Iowa, sister-in-law, Yvonne Maule of Mondamin, Iowa and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. Monday until time of service at the Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley. In Loving Memory Of Bruce A. Norris Memorial Service 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2013 Hennessey Funeral Home Missouri Valley, Iowa Officiating Dee Ann Klapp Organist Sharon Shelton Vocalist Matt Huth The Lords Prayer In This Very Room Vocalist Paul Susemihl I Want Jesus To Walk With Me Congregational Hymns Hymn Of Promise All Is Well With My Soul Speakers Sharon Shelton Paul Susemihl Matt Huth Mark Lehmann Final Resting Place Magnolia Cemetery Magnolia, Iowa Family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship at the Community Center in Mondamin following the committal service.
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