Norma "Jane" Hirth

Norma "Jane" (Harned) Hirth, 101, of Ackley, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Grand JiVante in Ackley, with family at her side. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, November 23, 2024 at the St. John's United Church of Christ in Ackley. Following the service Jane will be laid to rest at the Oakwood Cemetery in Ackley. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, November 22 at the church. Woodley Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is caring for Jane and her family. Norma Jane Hirth was born on September 8, 1923 to Rhoda and Ollis Harned in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She was the third of six children. Jane loved their home on Rainbow Drive. From their house, she could ride the trolley downtown, ice skate to school in winter, or go sledding in the woods of Hartman Reserve. She loved returning to the area for many Harned family reunions with her siblings. Jane graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1941 with her lifelong friend and future sister-in-law, Marge Harned. Following high school, she sewed ammunition belts at an Army contract materials company for the war effort. Jane also worked in clerk and bookkeeping positions. Travels with friends took her to Long Beach, California, where she worked at a bank for a short time. She met Marvin Charles Hirth of Ackley through a mutual friend. The couple liked going to social events and area dances. They were married at Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church on September 4, 1948, and enjoyed a 64-year marriage. Following their marriage, they farmed near Ackley and were blessed with two children – Mike and Connie. Jane helped operate the farm and supported her children’s activities in 4-H, church, band, and athletics. The family attended St. John’s UCC where Jane was a longtime Sunday School teacher and Sunshine Circle member. Jane was happiest when enjoying a game or social outing with friends. She had a competitive spirit and loved her weekly bowling leagues (with many successful trips to state tournaments) and weekly golf with the Ackley Ladies’ League. She was always up for a card game, coffee chat, craft, or bus trip and participated in many groups such as Ackley Women’s Club, Red Hat Ladies, Friends for Fun, and others. She had great fun sharing her favorite games and sports with her grandchildren and attending their activities. During their retirement years, Jane and Marvin liked to travel. Jane golfed when they wintered in Lakeland, Florida, and fished for walleyes during summer visits to her brother Hayes’ cabin on Oak Island in Canada. Jane loved watching all sports, and everyone who knew Jane knew she was a lifelong Hawkeye fan. Well into her 90s, she always stayed up late to watch Iowa basketball games – while knitting piles of colorful potholders to share with friends and family. Left to cherish Jane’s memory are her children, Mike Hirth (Deb Fowler) and Connie (Roger) Maifeld; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marge Harned and LuAnn Harned and many nieces and nephews. Jane is now joyfully reunited with her husband; parents; siblings: Roberta Lakin, Lynn Harned, Darlene Johnson, Hayes Harned, Jackie Laurie; brothers-in-law, Raymond Hirth, DeWayne Johnson, John Lakin, Dave Laurie; sister-in-law, Esther Hirth and daughter-in-law, Jean Hirth. The family thanks the staff at Grand Jivante for their kindness, care and support – and for all the fun activities that Jane loved. Memorial donations in memory of Jane can be made to St. John’s UCC in Ackley or Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls.

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Norma "Jane" Hirth

September 8, 1923 - November 17, 2024