Norman E. Abrahams, 85, of North Newton, died Thursday, January 8, 2009.
He was born Jan. 16, 1923, in Goessel, to Cornelius and Anna (Dalke) Abrahams. He married Ethel Grace Ewert on Sept. 26, 1944. She survives of North Newton. As a conscientious objector during WWII, Norman served in Civilian Public Service at Colorado Springs, Colo., and at the National Service Board in Washington, D.C., from 5-3-1944 to 7-4-1946. Norman was an optometrist with a Hillsboro practice for 42 years. He was on the first board to establish a volunteer organization, Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, which distributes used eye glasses to developing nations in need of eye care. Norman flew his plane on the very first volunteer eye project to Mexico. Many optometrists have since participated in the program, dispensing eye glasses to more than a million people in different countries. Norman enjoyed taking his wife, children and two oldest grandchildren to volunteer for VOSH as the organization gave away thousands of eye glasses. The Newton Lions Club, of which Norman was a member, helped collect eye glasses for the project.
In earlier years, Norman had a true love for flying and often could be seen visiting the skies in his single-engine plane. He flew into Canada and Mexico on church trips and volunteer projects. He also loved to travel and spend time in the outdoors, and he enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing with his family.
In 1990, Norman and Ethel were named "Outstanding Alumni of Bethel College," and he served on the Bethel College Board, the Northview Development Services Board and other boards in first the Hillsboro, then the Newton communities. In the last few years, Norman could be seen walking the Sand Creek Trail, a North Newton hiking path along the creek with sitting benches and many varieties of trees. It is a trail system Norman and his committee helped create and maintain. This beautiful spot in nature brought his family and him many hours of enjoyment. During his life, Norman loved singing, most recently with the college church's Chancel Choir. He valued education and had the honor of attending the college graduations of five of his grandchildren.
Other survivors include children, Nan and Don Graber of Monument, Colo., Dwayne and Ruth (Regier) Abrahams of Newton, and Nadine Abrahams and husband, Norman Epp, of Denver; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and brothers, Ray Abrahams and Chuck Abrahams, both of Hillsboro. Norman was preceded in death by a son, David Abrahams, who died in 1962, and by a sister, Verna Koehn.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, January 11, 2009 at the Bethel College Mennonite Church. There will be a private burial service on Monday, January 12, 2009. Memorial funds have been established with the Sand Creek Trail and with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International. Contributions can be sent to Bethel College Mennonite Church, 2600 College Ave., North Newton, KS 67117.
