Norma Lydia (Goslar) Wallace, 93, of Lake View, Iowa, was called to her eternal, Heavenly home on October 29, 2025, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View.
A “depression baby”, she was born in Charter Oak, Iowa on July 10, 1932, to Otto and Clara (Bolduan) Goslar. She was baptized into the Christian faith and later confirmed her faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charter Oak. She grew up on the family farm along with 5 siblings. Norma attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Charter Oak through the eighth grade, then attended and graduated from Charter Oak High School in 1950. She attended Wayne State College for two years before receiving an Iowa Teaching Certificate.
Norma began her teaching career in Cherokee, Iowa where she met her lifelong love, Jim Wallace. They were married April 10, 1955, in Charter Oak. The couple enjoyed 66 years of marriage and were blessed with three sons. After short stints teaching in Cherokee, Marcus and West Branch, Iowa they settled in Lake View where she began teaching 6th grade. While taking care of an active family and teaching she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Buena Vista College. With a goal of a school administration position, she earned a Master of Arts degree from Wayne State College. After 17 years teaching 6th grade she was appointed elementary school principal for Lake View-Auburn schools and served 13 years as a no-nonsense administrator. She introduced and promoted many educational improvements at LVA Elementary. She was active in several professional associations.
Norma retired in 1989 after 30 years of service in the Lake View-Auburn Schools. Since Jim retired at the same time, freedom to travel reached a new level. Summers were spent fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan and winters spent in the Florida Keys. Traveling with family to natural sites and National parks was a favorite activity.
Norma was a lifelong member of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and a 65+ year member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Lake View where she was active in Dorcas Society and many other activities. Service to others was important to her. She volunteered with the American Legion Auxiliary, WLVA schools and the Lake View Public Library.
Norma is survived by a sister, Geraldine Goslar of Enfield, NH; sons: Geoffrey (Donna) Wallace of Sulphur Springs, TX, Craig (Jackie) Wallace of Lake View, IA, and Tim Wallace of Richfield, UT; grandchildren: Jim (Chloe) Wallace and Ben (Melissa) Wallace, all of Lake View, Andrew (Laura) Wallace of Dallas, TX, Ashleigh (Eric) Lacey of St. Charles, MO, Alexa (Cass) Schear of Annabella, UT and Madisen (Marty) Fox of Richfield, UT; great-grandchildren: Olive and Willow Wallace, Grace and Claire Wallace, Margaret and Madeline Wallace, Jack Lacey, Radisen Porter, Tayven, Kaysen, and Ridge Schear; and many nieces and nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim Wallace; her parents, Otto and Clara Goslar; brothers Wilfred (Marlene) Goslar, and Elden (Marge) Goslar; sisters Helen (Kenneth) Torgerson, and Edna Mae (Charles) Schultz.
