1931-2026
Normajean Lucille Holtje, 94, of Arkansas City, KS passed away Saturday, January 17, 2026 in Udall, KS.
Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Friday, January 23, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Winfield.
Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. There will be a visitation held from 4-6 PM Thursday, January 22nd, at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Winfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church and School; donations may be left in the care of the funeral home.
Normajean was born on February 3, 1931 in Mount Hope, KS, the daughter of Emil and Minnie (Ortmann) Holtje. She graduated from the Udall High School in 1949 and earned an associate’s degree from St. John’s College in 1951, a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern College in 1955, and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1963. Normajean was a devoted elementary school teacher, she taught title, reading, and math classes. She worked for USD 470 for 30 years and retired in May 1996, after 45 years. She was a member of the US department of Education, the Kansas National Education Association, and received the Master Teacher Award from Arkansas City in 1974. Normajean enjoyed collecting Teddy Bears and Willow Tree Angels, reading, especially Portals of Prayer and the Bible, doing word searches, and she loved African violets, and roses. She was a member of the Upsilon chapter of the Delta Capa Gamma Society, and Trinity Lutheran Church.
Normajean is survived by her sister Aileen Wittenborn, nephews Emil Wittenborn and Mark Wittenborn (Judy), great-nieces Kristina Reed (Jon) and Janelle Hanks (Victor), great-great-nieces and nephews: Devyn Reed, Riley Reed, Ranie Hanks, Marcus Hanks, Bristol Hanks, and Brock Hanks. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister LaRue Holtje, and brother-in-law Roy Wittenborn.
