Nora Toohey daughter of James Toohey

Nora M. Toohey Burns


Birth: Jan. 5, 1911
Duncombe
Webster County
Iowa, USA
Death: Sep. 20, 2008

Nora M. Burns, 97, of Fort Dodge, died on Saturday, September, 20, 2008, at the Marian Home.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd, at 10:30 am at Corpus Christi Church. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery with Military Rites Conducted by the V.F.W. Post 1856. Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home is serving the family.

Nora is survived by a niece and nephew and several grand nieces and nephews, her close friend, Ruth Askelson and her husband Ron of Fort Dodge. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Nora (Lonergan) Toohey; her husband Frank Burns; brothers Thomas, James and John; sisters, Mary Toohey and Alice Toohey.

Nora Toohey was born January 5, 1911 in Duncombe, and moved to Fort Dodge with her parents as a very young child. She graduated from Corpus Christi Academy in 1928, attended Fort Dodge Jr. College and graduated from Ottumwa Heights College. She taught at the Coleman School in Fort Dodge and in the Lehigh Public School. She also taught at the former Wahkonsa School in Fort Dodge from 1937 to 1943 when she enlisted in the Waves at the beginning of WWII. She took Navy Officer Training at Smith College in North Hampton, MA and was commissioned an Ensign in June 1943. She was assigned to the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, RI as a Communication Officer and later served at the Third Naval District Headquarters in New York City. She resigned her Commission in 1949 as a Lt. (Senior Grade).

In August, 1949 she married Frank Burns at St Paul's Catholic Church in Wellesley, MA and returned to Fort Dodge to make her home.

She worked at the Webster County Department of Social Services in various programs as a Social Worker from 1957 to 1977 when she retired.

She was a Board member of the Webster County Day Care Center when it was opened in 1971. She was also a Board member of the Sheltered Workshop for several years. She was a member of the Corpus Christi Ladies Guild and the Legion of Mary.

Memorials may be left to Hospice of Fort Dodge or to the charity of your choice.

Burial:
Corpus Christi Cemetery
Fort Dodge
Webster County
Iowa, USA