Norma Lou (Bartz) Slanger, 70, of Valparaiso/Portage, IN passed away at the VNA Horton Hospice Center, on February 17, 2008 at 2:30 pm, after a 15 year long battle with breast cancer. Born Aug. 9, 1937 in Michigan City, IN to Mary Emily (Pinkerton) Bartz and Frederick H. Bartz, she married Walter (Butch) Slanger on Sept. 21, 1963. He preceded her in death on October 2, 1989. Her parents, an infant brother, and her brother-in-law, Philip B. Philips, also preceded her in death. Norma is survived by her sister, Maxine Joyce (Bartz) Philips (Philip,deceased); nephews: Fred Philips (Wanda) and Jonathan Philips (Nadine); and niece Marilou Dugan (Christopher); as well as three great nieces and five great nephews. Norma was active in the community, both with her time and charitable giving. She was a member of DAR; Porter Auxiliary with over 10,000 hours of service; Chapter J, PEO; the Portage Community Historical Society and delivered Meals on Wheels. Norma graduated from the South Bend College of Commerce and began her career as a mortgage loan secretary at the South Bend Federal Savings. She then moved back to Valparaiso and worked at Indiana Federal (now Fifth Third Bank) in Portage, where she met her husband, and then worked 15 years at the First National Bank in Valparaiso. Norma moved back to Valparaiso from Portage in 1995 and attended the First Christian Church (DOC) where she was baptized and had attended until her death. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday 10am at the First Christian Church (DOC) located at 1507 Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, IN., Officiating will be Rev. David Kovalow-St. John and Rev. Victoria Ubben. Friends and family may meet with the family Wednesday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Moeller Funeral Home located at 104 N. Roosevelt Rd., Valparaiso, IN. Burial will be at the McCool Cemetery in Portage, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the First Christian Church (DOC), 1507 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso, IN. 46383; and the VNA Meals on Wheels, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.
Published in The Times from 2/19/2008 - 2/20/2008.