Bruce Norris

Bruce Norris, 76, of Alta died May 10, 2026, at Accura Healthcare in Aurelia.

Memorial services will take place Monday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will be held Sunday, May 17, from 4-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

Bruce Kemp Norris was born July 3, 1949, in Ottawa, Ill., to Merlynd Alonzo Norris and Edna Marian (Kemp) Norris. He moved with his family to Eagle Grove in 1950. He grew up with his two older brothers and one younger sister on an acreage in Eagle Grove. He was active in Boy Scouts and delivered the early morning Des Moines Register newspaper as a youngster. Bruce graduated in 1967 from EGHS. He worked at Cal’s Super Valu in high school to earn spending money. 

He married Mary Ellen Stevens on Sept. 23, 1972, in Council Bluffs. They made their home in Silver City for four years and finally settled in Alta for the last 47 years.

Bruce had numerous jobs as a young adult, including an over-the-road truck driver and an equipment operator until he started his apprenticeship at MidAmerican Energy (previously Iowa Public Service). He worked for MidAmerican for 39.5 years in the substation department and lastly as a electric meter tech specialist.

He could make friends easily, as long as they fished, shot a gun, drove fast cars, would barter with him for something, smoked a cigar and/or enjoyed a fine whiskey. He enjoyed meeting up for breakfast or lunch with his buddies. He could “spin a yarn” to anyone who would listen.  He had a heart of gold and would always lend a hand to someone if he could.

Bruce and Ellen enjoyed going to flea markets and antique shows together. They reared their children, Sarah and Seth, in Alta and were busy attending all their activities as they were growing up. He and Mary Ellen had special individual weeks with each of their six grandchildren.  He said he was making memories with the grands when they went for their donut treats early in the morning. He showed them how to fish, how to fix things, how to make things. He might have picked up his dad’s habit of having a lot of “junk/treasures!” He really liked going to auctions and purchasing something that he “needed.” He especially enjoyed going to his north and south “places” just to piddle around. He could drive anywhere, anytime and in any weather.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Merlynd and Edna Norris.

Bruce is survived by his wife Mary Ellen; his daughter Sarah (Josh) Roller; son Seth (Cheri) Norris; and six grandchildren: Benjamin and Vivian Roller; and Mercedes, Abby, Hunter and Gage Norris. He is also survived by his brothers, Ray (Barb) Norris and Brian (Barb) Norris; sister Kathie (Todd) Asche; brother-in-law Roger Stevens; and numerous nieces and nephews.