Norma June (Pieper) Ahlschwede was born June 18, 1924 in rural Seward County, Nebraska, the daughter of Edwin A. and Henrietta (Knorr) Pieper and passed away in Norfolk, Nebraska on November 27, 2011 at the age of 87 years, 5 months, 9 days. Norma was baptized July 6, 1924; on May 16, 1937 she was confirmed at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Goehner. She attended rural school district #30 and then Goehner District #27 and was a 1941 graduate of Goehner High School. Norma met her future husband, Herman C. "Red" Ahlschwede when they were both in high school; they dated throughout Herman's years in the military and were united in marriage on May 26, 1946. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Gary, Brenda and Beverly. Norma had numerous employment opportunities throughout her lifetime. She worked at the Concordia Cafeteria, did house cleaning, worked at the Ben Franklin store, and Kroger's Shoe Store. In 1955, she began working for the egg plant where she worked for nine years; Geesen's Cleaners and in 1964 she began employment with JC Penney where she worked as a clerk and from 1982-1986 as manager. Following her retirement from Penney's, Norma sold Avon and worked with Betty's Bunch. Norma resided in Goehner from 1959 through 2005 when she moved to Norfolk where she made her home for four years and then moved to Stanton in 2009. Norma was a member of St John Lutheran Church in Seward. Norma is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Henrietta Pieper; her husband, Herman C. Ahlschwede; her son, Gary Ahlschwede; brothers, Lester, Loren and Lloyd Pieper and granddaughter, Rachael Vonderohe. Norma is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and Phil Herrmann of Hastings and Beverly and Dale Vonderohe of Norfolk; daughter-in-law, Carol Ahlschwede of Milford; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; brother, Wayne Pieper of York; sisters-in-law, Erma Pieper of Omaha and Ruth Pieper of California; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers, and memories of life shared with Norma.