Norma Joy (Hopp) Kuch

Norma Joy (Hopp) Kuch left this world peacefully on Oct. 15, 2021. Always full of life, Norma’s strong-willed spirit remained well intact even in her final moments. She was a powerhouse of a personality. With endless amounts of energy, Norma was a force to be reckoned with. She showed up fully every place she went, which was seemingly everywhere. Unabashedly honest, with a knack for telling you how she really felt, there was never a question as to whether Norma was in the room. She took the world by both reins and left a lasting mark as an unforgettable wife, mom, grandma, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, neighbor and best friend.

Born in Odessa on July 12, 1931 to Henry and Lydia Hopp, Norma’s zest for life was apparent early on. Sandwiched between an older sister and three younger siblings, her characteristic wit and independent streak kept everyone on their toes. Often rambunctious, she also had a deeply nurturing side. A big part of her childhood was spent taking care of kids. She loved babysitting, either for siblings or children of family friends. After laying her brother down for a nap one day, Norma found the bedroom door jammed. Following a few more failed attempts at opening, glass shattered. Intensely claustrophobic with a renowned lack of patience, waiting for help was never an ideal option for Norma. Busting the window and crawling out, dress and all, was much more her style. It was never a dull moment. She was the life of the party and spent the majority of her youth constantly on the go – bowling, dancing, and playing sports with a laser-like focus on winning. The world was her oyster. Surrounded by friends, she was at any second ready to break into the one-of-a-kind, boisterous laugh her family lovingly imitated later on.

Bold yes, but that laugh deserved credit. It was what first caught the attention of the man who eventually became the love of her life. Weeks after hearing her laughter fill the town theater while the previews rolled, Robert Kuch serendipitously met Norma at his sister’s house. He recognized her right away. There she was, sitting on the couch simultaneously talking, tapping and tugging at her dress. A ball of energy personified. He was captivated, and she was smitten. As the two were introduced, Bob found her inability to sit still endearing and her exuberance fun. It was an instant connection that began a lifetime of love. On Sept. 16, 1950 shortly after her graduation, the two were married and barely a year later welcomed a daughter, Tami Jo, followed by a son, David Robert, and later a second daughter, Nancy Beth. In the span of only a few short years, Norma stepped into her life’s biggest adventure as a wife and mother.

Yet even motherhood failed to slow Norma down. Often with three children in tow, she could be found flying down the farm’s gravel road nearly every day. Anything in the way never stood a chance. Case in point, an ice chest Bob inadvertently placed too close to her sky-blue, tank-of-a-car Oldsmobile for a routine shopping trip was backed over and dragged for a quarter mile, stuck under the front bumper. Pulling up to Bob working in the field as she headed down the lane, pieces of cooler dangling, Norma shouted, “I thought you were bringing me that ice chest? And there’s definitely something wrong with the car,” before speeding off. When not living on the road, Norma was living in the kitchen. Food was love to her. From mouthwatering roasts to scratch-made golden pies and cookies galore, there was nothing Norma could not cook or bake to perfection. Smells of freshly baked bread often greeted the kids off the bus. For all of her eccentricities, Norma showed up for family in a big way. Her love was deep, fierce and loyal. She helped turn the farm into the embodiment of home. Walking through the front door was like walking into a hug. Her grandkids later became the center of her world. Together with Bob, she showered them with unconditional support, never missing a birthday or school event and proudly taking on the role of “Cookie Grandma” at sports games. No grandchild, friend of a grandchild or just child in general was left dessert-less in Norma’s presence.

She remained full of life even as the years went by, a wild child dressed in a grandma’s clothes, part Thelma and Louise’s long-lost sister, part home chef extraordinaire. She was born an original and left as one. She was unapologetically her own. Barreling down the highway with perfectly coiffed hair permed to the tee, she had places to go and people to see – always. There was never a moment to waste. Strong-willed and spunky to the core, Norma was outspoken, clever, with a thirst for travel. At nearly 80, she took San Diego by storm and years earlier jetted off to Reno on a whim. Lover of all road trips, Bloody Marys, QVC, casinos, bright orange everything, full-fat butter and mayonnaise, and she turned every day activities into anything but. Enthusiast of rooster-related décor and long conversations with close friends, she kept her purple “dumb phone” as she called it close by and could text with millennial-like speed. She wrote, called and visited with seemingly everyone about everything. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star organization and a warrior. She overcame more health issues than reasonably possible and had the will to keep 20 people alive. After recovering from the rare autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre, Norma underwent knee surgery scheduled on Cinco de Mayo. Eyes closing, she turned to the anesthesiologist and in true, Norma-like fashion said, “I hope there’s margarita mix in there.”

Until the end, Norma’s spark for life was unwavering. It was only when she watched her one true love leave this world did a part of her go, too. She knew it was time, but would have given anything to keep “her Bobby” here a little longer. Seventy years is never enough with a genuine soulmate. Only a few months later in her hospital room, with folded hands and hot pink nails, Norma’s enduring essence left and rejoined Bob’s. Her contagious laughter, boundless energy and tenacious heart are, and always will be, deeply missed and incredibly loved. For all of the countless ways she made our lives exciting, memorable and meaningful, we will be forever grateful. Her indelible spirit is free and full of life once again.

A joint memorial service for Bob and Norma will be held on Sat., March 12, 2022 at the Odessa Heritage Church.