Akers, Norman D. 1936-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
Norman Dale Akers was born on March 17, 1936, on a farm northeast of Gravity, Iowa. He passed away at home surrounded by his family on Feb. 19, 2025.
When he was four his family moved to a farm 10 miles east of Bedford, Iowa. He attended Bedford High School where he graduated in 1954 in a class size of 66 and was especially gifted in math.
A friend of Norm’s set-up a blind double date. On that date he met his future bride, Karen Irene Price. Their first date was a candy bar and a bottle of pop. Their other dating activities consisted of roller skating and movies. Norman proposed to Karen at her high school prom. They planned a summer wedding and were married on June 27, 1956. They were happily married for over 68 years.
Norman started his career as a carpenter in Bedford. He was also volunteer fireman in that community and spent 10 years as a Staff Sergeant in the Iowa National Guard. He changed careers and sold life insurance for a time, and moved his family to Springfield, Illinois. Norman made another career change and relocated to St. Joseph where he was hired by Gilbert Pickett to be an estimator for Lawhon Construction. In time, he became part of the company’s ownership group and eventually became president of the company. He was instrumental in establishing the Labor Relations Council which later became the St. Joseph Construction Association where he served a term as president. Norman was highly respected for his expertise, integrity, and honesty in business. He will be missed by the St Joseph construction community.
Norman was a member of Ashland United Methodist Church for over 55 years and served the church for numerous years on the Board of Trustees and he participated in various improvements made to the church.
He was a supporter of Habitat for Humanity and Interserv. He was also a 50-year member of the Moila Temple of the Shriners International Fraternity.
Norman loved bass fishing and visited many lakes with the Bass Club. He spent many summers at the Lake of the Ozark entertaining family and friends. Norman had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed playful pranks. He also enjoyed NASCAR, the Kansas City Chiefs, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and red convertible corvettes.
His family would want you to know that he was a kind and compassionate man who was generous with his time and resources. He often would learn of a need and would quietly endeavor to see that those needs were fulfilled. He found great satisfaction anonymously doing things for others.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Myrtle (Stephens) Akers, of Bedford; and sister, Janet (Akers) Livingston, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Surviving him are wife, Karen (Price) Akers, of St. Joseph; and his three adult children, Rick (Sheryl) Akers, Roger (Tammy) Akers and Julie (David) McFarland; grandchildren include Ryan Akers, Kevin (Miranda) Akers, Tara (James) Dohrmann, Jonathan Akers, Samuel (Anna) Akers, Alison (J.J.) Dorrell, Julia (Aaron) Prentice, Laura Akers, Mark (Meredith) McFarland and Sarah McFarland; great-grandchildren include Payton Akers, Natalie Akers, Sierra Akers, Isaiah Akers, Meier Dohrmann, Beckett Dohrmann, Easton Dohrmann, Hudson Dohrmann, Phoenix Akers, Harrison Akers, Ellis Akers, Henry Akers, and Elijah Prentice. Norm will be missed by many dear extended family and friends.
Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory from 6 to 8 p.m. Farewell Services and Public Livestream will be Saturday, March 1, at Ashland United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. with Interment following at Fairview Cemetery in Bedford, Iowa. Memorials may be made on behalf of Norman to Ashland United Methodist Church.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
