Norman J. Kane

E, Norman J.

Norman J. Kane, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin passed away on Saturday October 24^th, of natural causes with his family at his side. Norm was born July 19, 1929 to Donald & Agnes (Leary) Kane in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Norm was raised in Seneca, Wisconsin by his parents along with his siblings Joyce (Lachman), Donna Mae (Blank) and his very special brother Jerry, who passed away at the age of 10 of Rheumatic Fever.

Norm grew up on a farm with no electricity, no running water and no indoor plumbing. He walked to school, two miles uphill both ways. But it wasn’t always that hard as they did have horse drawn sleds for really bad weather. Norm began his education in a one room school house. He graduated from Seneca High School in 1947. Shortly thereafter the family moved to the north side of La Crosse. In 1950 he met the love of his life, Maxine Heintz. His courting was briefly interrupted by a two year service commitment to defend our county in the Korean War. Norm was drafted in 1951 by the US Army. He completed his basic training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma before heading to Korea with stops in San Francisco and Japan. Norm was honorably discharged in 1953 with rank of Sergeant. He was in the 79^th Engineers Construction Battalion as a bulldozer operator building highways, roads and hospitals.

Upon his return from the service in 1953, Norm recommenced his job with Allis-Chalmers in LaCrosse. In 1954 Norm was married to Maxine Heintz and began to raise his family. In 1956 Norm took a job as a fuel oil deliveryman for Standard Oil. In 1963 he purchased and operated a Standard Oil service station on 19^th and Jackson. In less than a year of owning the service station, the Standard Oil Company sought out Norm to be the new agent for the Standard Oil home and commercial delivery of fuel oil and lubricants servicing major corporations including the Trane Company, G. Heileman Brewery, Mathy Construction and Burlington Northern Railroad.

In 1972 Norm purchased the agency from Standard/Amoco Oil Company and formed his new Company Norm Kane & Sons Oil Company, Inc. He continued to own and operate the Company through July of 1980 at which time he sold the business to Rau Oil and retired at the age of 50 years old. Norm was the prototype for business development. He cultured relationships the old fashioned way, 1 on 1 meetings with people. He loved people and loved to talk. Whether a Sunday morning mass or a five minute trip to the post office, you had to add 45 minutes to the venture. “Dad, where were you? Oh I saw so & so etc…” He truly loved to talk and never once cut a conversation short. He really loved people.

Norm’s hobbies included farming (not to be confused with gardening), antique collecting, coin collecting and last but not least, watching his beloved Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers with his family. Norm loved doing things with his five Boys. Upon being asked, “What are you up to Norm? The answer was always “just Raising Kane”. Beginning in 1980, Norm and Max spent their winters in Mesa Arizona. Many of their friends and relatives followed their lead.

Norm was very proud of his Irish Heritage. He was one of the founding members of the Shamrock Club of La Crosse, an organization committed to promoting Irish heritage. Norm was the Irishman of the Year in 1976. Norm and Max were devout Catholics and members of Mary, Mother of Church Parish. Norm was a lifetime member of numerous clubs and organizations including the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW, Moose Lodge (Charter Member), Eagles and Elks Clubs.

Norm is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maxine Kane (Heintz); his five children Donald Kane (Deb), Richard Kane, Larry Kane (Karri), John Kane (Cheri), Jeffrey Kane; six grandchildren Jerry, Jenelle (Donnie Smith), Ryan, Connor (Godson), Kendall and Miranda; two great grandchildren Aiden and Bryce; one sister Donna Mae Blank; brother and sisters-in-law, Harry & Diane Strittmater, Louise Heintz, and Shirley Hill; his very special friend and 1rst cousin Roger Seymour; and countless relatives and friends.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joyce and brother Jerry; mother-in-law Marion Heintz Brose; brother and sisters-in-law, LeRoy Lachman, Hank Blank, Florian Heintz, Clem and Natalie Iverson, Elmo and Vivian Hill and Elmer Hill.

The Kane family extends their deepest gratitude to the Doctors and Medical Staff of the Gundersen Health Systems.

Norm was truly one of the great ones and will be missed by all.

A funeral Mass will be held will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, October 29, 2015, in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse, Wis. Rev. Brian D. Konopa will officiate with burial with Military Honors by the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52, to be held in in Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse, Wis. Family and friends may visit from 4 to 7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. So., La Crosse, Wis., with a Prayer Service to be held at 4:00 PM. Family and friends may also visit from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass on the Church on Thursday. A reception will be held immediately after the services at the Moose Club, 1932 Ward Avenue, La Crosse, Wis., beginning at 12:30 pm.

May the road rise up to meet you. … And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.