Norman Walter

Mazurowski

Norman Walter Mazurowski, 87, of Lebanon, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon.

He was born in Cleveland, OH on July 25, 1939 to Walter Mazurowski and Celia Wrana. Walter was born in Poland and worked as a chef. Celia was born in Wisconsin. She was one of fourteen children. Celia was a seamstress. Norm was Walter and Celia’s only son. He had 2 sisters: Dolores 2 years older and Margaret 6 years younger.

Norm spent grades 1-3 at St Stanislaus in Cleveland, OH. Mornings were in Polish and afternoons in English. He took the streetcar to school. After school he stopped at his Grandmother’s house, who only spoke English, for hot sweet milk. In 4th grade, the family left inner city Cleveland and moved near Lake Erie. Norm’s father bought land and built the family home. He attended St. Teresa Elementary in Sheffield Lake, OH.

The first 2 years of high school, Norm attended St. Edwards, an all boys High School. He graduated from Elyria Catholic in 1957. In the 50’s, parochial schools did not have bus service, so Norm hitchhiked everyday to and from school, most of the time with his regular rides. During high school, Norm worked for his favorite Uncle, Uncle John. John was the one that showed Norm how to hunt.

He graduated from Ohio University in Athens, OH with a degree in Business. Norm worked his way through college. The summer after he graduated from college, Norm took a road trip via Route 66 and got a job at La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, CA. For a season, he was the desk clerk when Clint Eastwood checked in. 

In July 1962, Norm was drafted into the Army. He served for 2 years and worked as a Company Clerk and as a Steward in the Officer’s Club. As the Company Clerk, his duties included typing a daily report that required 6 copies at one time. If you made a mistake, you had to start all over. Norm was a bartender at the Officer’s Club. He was discharged in June of 1964.

After leaving the military, Norm went to work for Stouffer’s Foods, a family-owned restaurant chain in the East. He was a Manager Trainee. During one of the training sessions, he met Virginia (Ginny) Stoecker, another Trainee. Ginny was slowly chopping a case of lettuce, when Norm asked if he could show her a faster technique. He proceeded to chop the entire case of lettuce in minutes. Within a year, the two were engaged and married on September 25, 1965 in Cleveland, OH. The reception was held at the Barclay House, where Norm’s father, Walter was a chef.

Ginny and Norm started their family in 1970, when Rebecca Anne was born in Pittsburgh. Stephen Walter followed 4 years later in 1974 in Ohio. The family moved to Indiana in 1975 and bought a farmhouse in Lebanon, IN. In the 1980’s, Stouffer’s transitioned from a family-owned company to a corporate entity. Norm decided to take another job and interviewed with Ulen Country Club. Norm was the Manager and Ginny was the Kitchen Manager. Norm and Ginny were at Ulen from 1980 to 1990.

In the mid 1980’s, Norm and Ginny start a catering company called The Flower Barn. They used the kitchen at Ulen to support this business. In 1990 after leaving Ulen, they built a commercial kitchen in one of the barns on the property and catered events in Lebanon and the surrounding area. At this same time, they also started a cut and dried flower business and sold posies on the farm as well as at 18th century shows around the Midwest. Both the catering and flower business were closed in 2012. Norm and Ginny’s next business was buying 600 Japanese Maple tree saplings. They grew these trees and sold to customers around the area.

Starting in 2016, Norm had a series of health issues including bladder cancer, hip replacement, and a series of lung infections.

Norm had many interests:

Hunting – he hunted out West on horseback for Elk & Deer with rifles. He also enjoyed hunting locally with his recurve bow.

Motorcycle Riding – at 65 he bought and learned to ride a Harley Davidson. Norm even drove to Sturgis to celebrate Bike Week

Woodworking – he enjoyed wood working and cut his index finger off

Travel – starting in the early 1980’s, Norm and Ginny started traveling the world. They have visited over 50 countries. Notables include: Australia, New Zealand, Easter Island, Antarctica, 5 Stans, Machu Picchu, China, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and many more

Cooking – Norm was an avid cook. He loved to go grocery shopping, especially at specialty grocers like Central Market in TX.

Cross Country Skiing – In the winter, Norm and Ginny would cross country ski in the corn fields behind their house as well as in Michigan and Wisconsin

Avid Reader – in the last 10 years, he was a weekly regular at the Lebanon Library. He loved detective novels, and thrillers.

In later years, he devoted time to traveling and taking care of the 5-acre farm. Despite his health issues, Norm always tried to get the project done, no matter how long it would take or how many tries it took.

Norm leaves behind his wife, Ginny Mazurowski; his son, Stephen Mazurowski; his daughter, Rebecca Mazurowski Kubena; son-in-law, Farrell Kubena; granddaughter, Samantha Kubena; and grandson, Maxwell Kubena.

Family and friends will gather Friday, November 13, for visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 319 E. South Street, Lebanon, IN 46052.

Final care of Norm has been entrusted to the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon. You are invited to visit the website where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message at www.strawmyerdrury.com.