Norman R. Buenger

Norman R. Buenger, age 86, of Holstein, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center of Cherokee.  A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with Vicar Emily Anderson officiating. Burial will be at the Good Hope Cemetery of Cherokee, IA. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.

Norman was born in West Bend, IA to Roy and Helen (Hanselman) Buenger on May 12, 1939. He attended school in West Bend, graduating in 1957. He was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend. He helped his dad and brother farm, drove school bus and worked at a service station. He was in the Army from 1962-1964 on active duty. In May 1966 he joined the Iowa State Patrol as an officer and transferred to Holstein, Iowa. He was married to Janet Peterson of Cherokee, IA on April 3, 1971 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. He was a long-time member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Holstein, having served on various boards and council positions. He was a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Holstein Fire & Rescue from 1982-2013. He retired from the Iowa State Patrol in February 2003. He enjoyed helping local farmers during the spring and fall season for a number of years. He also enjoyed traveling south during the winter, and spending time with loved ones at the family cabin on Big Spirit Lake. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet in 2024; a son, Brian in 1974; his parents, Roy and Helen Buenger; his mother and father-in-law, Bertil and Vera Peterson; his sister, Lois Buenger; his sister and brother-in-law Alyce and Hank Lauck; and a sister-in-law, Sandra Peterson.

He is survived by three daughters, Amy (Dan) Bruns of Ankeny, IA, Ann Buenger of Urbandale, IA, Wendy Buenger of Clive, IA; grandsons, Lucas and Logan Bruns; a brother, Lester Buenger of West Bend, IA; a brother-in-law Keith (Jan) Tolzin of Ellensburg, WA; Sister-in-laws Kathy (Ed) Oie of Fort Myers, FL, Karen Hirschman of Jackson, MN, Julie (Michael) Johnson of Estero, FL and many nieces & nephews.

Memorials can be made to the Holstein Fire and Rescue or the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.