Norman Lee Varuska

Norman Lee Varuska
April 29, 1937 December 11, 2021

Memorial services for Norman Lee Varuska, 84, Lawrence, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

Born to James and Dora (Mollet) Varuska. Norman was the middle child with an older brother, Dale, and a younger sister, Charlotte. Norman was born and raised in Geddes, SD as a farm boy. He attended 8 years of country school before going to Geddes high school, where he graduated from in 1955.
In October of 1960 Norman was drafted into the United States Army. His basic training was in Fort Ord, CA, before training as a Medic in Fort Sam Houston, TX. Norman was then stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. Many lifetime friends were made during those 2 years.
Norman graduated from The University of South Dakota Springfield, SD with a Bachelor of Science in Education, in May of 1973. He never taught school but he instructed others with many of the skills he knew.
December 27, 1960 Norman was united in marriage to Connie Rada, and they shared 60 + years together. They have four children: Bradley (Billie Dettmann) Varuska and children Riley Varuska and Jake Varuska; Toni (Mark) Stremel and children dau Kristen (Felix) Zacharias and their children Lucas Zacharias and Maggie Zacharias; and son Kellen Stremel (deceased); Teri Varuska; Jami Varuska and son Matthew Roe. Family was extremely important to Norman.
Baseball was a major part of his life; participating in City Baseball Programs. He played on the 1952 Manager Jack Scoot’s Geddes Junior Legion team and grabbed the Class “B” runner up honors in the South Dakota Junior Legion tournament in Pierre, SD. His father, Jim, got Norman and his brother Dale interested in baseball at a young age. Norman coached the Geddes teener ball team, played on the town team, and played baseball on the Army Team while stationed at Fort Riley; he was a lifetime fan of the game. After moving to Lawrence, he became an avid fan of KU sports. Norman always cheered on granddaughter Riley on the KU Women’s rowing team.
Throughout his life, Norman worked as a plumber, carpenter, electrician, cabinet builder, and concrete/foundation man, before eventually becoming the owner of his own construction business. In 1985 Norman and his family moved to Lawrence, KS where he continued his construction business before retiring a few years ago. He was always working on one project or other, and was always ready to help someone fix something or lend a tool. He is remembered for his constant smile and joking manner.
Many other family members: in-laws, Aunt Gladys, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends are left to mourn Norman and remember many good times together.
Preceding Norman in death were his parents, Jim and Dora Varuska, in-laws Joe Rada, Elfreida (Rada) and Otto Tronvold, brother Dale Varuska; sister and husband Charlotte and Bill Smith.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Children’s Mercy Hospital or the Ronald McDonald House.
Children’s Mercy:
support.childrensmercy.org
2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
or
Ronald McDonald House:
donations@rmhc.org
9502 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108

And may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Services will be live streamed through: www.warrenmcelwain.com\

15 Condolences

  1. Carol Oberbroekling on December 14, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    Connie, Toni, Teri, Brad and Jamie
    So sorry to hear about Norman. He was a very special person to me. He will be dearly missed. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.



  2. Sheila Ratley on December 14, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with you all!



  3. Ben Huggins on December 14, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    I send my prayers and support to your whole family during this difficult time. My heart goes out to all of you. I’m terribly sorry for your loss. I know first hand that Norman was a very special man. May your memories provide comfort in your journey through this loss.



  4. Maureen Dufek on December 14, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    Our thoughts an prayers are with the families



  5. Sherri Martinie on December 14, 2021 at 7:13 pm

    We are sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose a parent. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.



  6. Mike King on December 14, 2021 at 10:32 pm

    Connie, kids, grandchildren,
    I was saddened to learn Norman’s passing. My condolences and prayers for all of you. I learned much from Norman as he did a lot of work on our home during my youth. He was a special man and I always enjoyed our visits. I will miss him. Mike



  7. Karen Mushitz Bordewyk on December 15, 2021 at 6:31 am

    Connie and family, I am so sorry for your loss. May God’s peace be with all of you as you remember him fondly.



  8. Dave and Eileen Carda on December 15, 2021 at 9:27 am

    Connie and family. You and your family are in our prayers. I remember how Norman always was pulling a trick on the boys when he was building our addition. He will be missed!



  9. Reese Arnold on December 15, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    I had the pleasure of rowing with Norman during the community learn-to-row event at KU. He was a very determined rower and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing that experience and memory with Bradley, Billie, and Riley. My prayers are with the entire family.



  10. Carrie Cook-Callen & KU Rowing Family on December 15, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    Thinking of the family during this time.



  11. Bev Merkwan on December 15, 2021 at 7:56 pm

    Connie and family. So sorry to hear of Normans passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.



  12. Patricia Harrington on December 15, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    Connie, Brad, Toni, Teri and Jami, I am so very sorry for your loss and my heart is so saddened. I have many memories of Norman and always did enjoy his sense of humor. I am praying for each of you to be comforted during this time. God bless each of you.



  13. Tom Claflin.......LaCrosse Wisconsin on December 17, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    I met Norm in LaCrosse Wisconsin while he had been visiting my friend and colleague Ron Rada several years ago. I was given the opportunity to meet Norm and enjoyed every minute of our time together, fishing, enjoying the Mississippi River and otherwise attempting to solve world issues. I can assure you that there were very few quiet and boring moments during our Tdiscussions. I can only conclude that Norm was truly a gentleman and thoughtful person. My prayers are for him.



  14. Tom Claflin.......LaCrosse Wisconsin on December 17, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    I met Norm in LaCrosse Wisconsin while he had been visiting my friend and colleague Ron Rada several years ago. I was given the opportunity to meet Norm and enjoyed every minute of our time together, fishing, enjoying the Mississippi River and otherwise attempting to solve world issues. I can assure you that there were very few quiet and boring moments during our discussions. I can only conclude that Norm was truly a gentleman and thoughtful person. My prayers are for him.



  15. Susan Schulte on December 18, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    It is still hard to believe. He was a very good man and will be missed. I remember him working with Jimmy on a silage pit. The boys were there supposedly helping them but getting into trouble more often not. Norman would just edge them on. They had fun with epically that day. Connie and family, you are all in our prayers and thoughts.



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