04/03/2026
Norm Gerdeman (aka Norman Walter) was born on March 2nd, 1942, to Walter and Esther Gedeman in the small town of Delphos, Ohio. Norm was the second oldest of nine children and the oldest boy. He grew up on a farm that had cattle, pigs, chicken, and crops to tend to. Being he was the oldest son, he worked hard to help his dad and other brothers take care of the livestock and harvest the fields. He built pigpens and chicken coops and drove a tractor before he knew how to drive. Once and awhile, he would take a break to play baseball in the open field with his siblings or attend the local basketball game at Delphos St. Johns where he went to school. He grew up on Gerdeman Road down the road from some other Gerdeman family members too.
He met his wife at a local hangout full of music, dancing, and girls! Rosie was from Ottawa, Ohio a town about 20-30 minutes away… an out-of-town girl back in the day. They were engaged on a snowy Valentine’s Day in 1963 where Norm drove through a blizzard to pop the question. They were married on Thanksgiving, November 28, 1963. After saying “I do”, they moved to the little bit bigger town of Lima, Ohio where they rented a duplex and lived there while having their first son Brad. Norm was 23. Norm and Rosie built a house while expecting their first daughter Rachael and moved in when Rosie was pregnant. The first two kids were followed by two more: Michelle and Erick, all kids being 18 months apart.
To Read More about Norm’s Story , go to hallmarkhouseky.com/blog
