Seventeenth Generation

305. Norman Edward ROOT (`~) was born on 8 February 1922 in Little Creek, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^155,380 He was born on the "Brandt Place" on Highway 16, four miles west of Sparta.

From an autobiographical sketch written by Norman: "I left home to go to high school when I was 14. I went to work for my room and board at Fran Herman's near Sparta. I walked 2 1/2 miles to school. After Fran moved to Big Creek on March 1st, I rode the school bus.

In November 1938, my second year, our dad died, so Wesley and I quit school and came home. The next summer I went to work on the Barney farm and the following winter came home so Wesley could go to work in Camp Grant in southern Wisconsin. He came home the next Spring and I went to work for Fran again on the Huddleston farm he had purchased. The next Winter I came home and Wesley and I cut logs for railroad ties. I then worked for Ed Giraud.

When I was 22, I volunteered for the Air Force. I passed the flying exam and went to Miami Beach for basic training. I made PFC and then shipped to Kingman, Arizona, for gunnery training. I had my first airplane ride on the way there. Then I got my wings and the rank or Corporal. I came back to Tampa, Florida, for a month at McDill Field.

After a ten-day leave, I came home. I went to Gulfport Mississippi, for 30 days' Gunnery School before shipping overseas. On August 10th we went to Italy by boat. After 16 days, we arrived in Naples and ten days later we went to Foggia out in the desert.

The equipment we wore: 45 calibre pistol and holster; electric flysuit; boots, gloves, helmet and oxygen mask; parachute harness and parachute; Mae West life jacket; gunsight defroster on goggles; GI shoes tied to harness; then, flying coveralls with first aid kit of morphine, bandages, sulfa and salve; $65 of German money, map, compass, deciphering code; extra ammunition for pistol; rations in the pocket were dog biscuits, dog food, crackers, cheese, Spam, 5 cigarettes and 1 frozen candy bar.

We had more schooling at Foggia. After that I was promoted to Staff Sergeant. We finally flew our first mission on October 24th, 1944. (He went on to describe some of the missions that he flew.) After 28 missions, the war was over. We kissed the ground and went off to rest camp three days in Cairo, Egypt, and three days in Tel Aviv, Israel. In August, we were sent back to the United States.

After 13 days, we reached New York, and a week later I arrived at the Sparta depot at 4:00 a.m. I called home three times and couldn't wake anyone. Finally, Bill Roeske answered. In those days, when a call was made, every phone on the line rang. Harold was working for the Roeske's at the time, so Bill sent him in the truck to get me. When I got home, mom came out of the house with open arms, crying. Wesley was milking the cows. Even the cows missed me.

I was discharged December 15th, 1945, and was home for good. January 1st I went to work at DX, driving gas truck. Then I worked again for Fran Herman and then Louis Slaver. On February 24, 1948, I got married to Ruth Bernett, a very good wife.

After we were married, I spent three years farming, where I was out standing in my field. Then I re enlisted in the Air Force and went to Tucson to work for Remote Control Turrets. On June 1st I was transferred to Travis AF Base in California. On July 1st I came home on leave and picked up Ruth and little Larry, who was one year old, and my car. Mom went out with us for two weeks. We lived in Napa Valley. I worked every weekend at Rocknar Dairy, owned by Joe Cox and his two brothers. Before long they sold out and moved to Greeley, Colorado. On December 1st I got discharged and came home to stay.

For six months I drove taxi and then worked for Coca Cola for five years. Then I drove a delivery truck for Red Dot Chips for twenty-nine years, during which time I missed only one day. With all the driving I had done, I have never had an accident. After I retired, I worked at the Spur gas station in Holmen."

. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹² He appeared in the census in 1940 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ He was living with his mother and siblings and his occupation was "Farm Hand, Dairy Farm."

. Norman lived at his home in Onalaska, La Crosse County, WI in 2001.¹²⁴ He died on 17 January 2008 at the age of 85 in West Salem, La Crosse County, WI.^93,381 He suffered from cancer of the colon, which then spread to his liver and spine.

Obituary Notes: "Norman E. Root, 85, of Onalaska died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem, Wis.

He was born in Sparta on Feb. 8, 1922, to Edward and Minnie (Jones) Root. He married Ruth E. Bernett on Feb. 24, 1948, and she preceded him in death in 1993. Norman served during World War II with the Army Air Force in the European Campaign, flying in B-17s. He was a member of Onalaska American Legion Post 336 and Onalaska Lions Club.

He worked for many years as a route salesman for Coca Cola, Red Dot and Frito Lay, retiring in 1987. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, having his car take him to Black River Falls, Wis., telling stories and jokes and having breakfast at Nutbush City Limits.

He is survived by his children, Larry N. (Marie Wheeler) Root, Curtis L. (Roxanne Roloff) Root and Renee J. (Gary) Thorson; grandchildren, Kevin L. Root, Kristi M. (Andrew) Godlewski, Ryan M. (Jennifer Ploegert) Root and Cory T. Root; great-grandchildren, Dylan Godlewski, Audrey Godlewski, Ayden Root and Mikayla Root; sisters, Marita Root and Ruth Anne Wilson; and brother, Harold.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Ness; and a brother, Wesley.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at North Presbyterian Church, 1327 N. Salem Road, La Crosse. The Rev. Scott Skogen will officiate, and burial will be in the Onalaska Cemetery."
He was buried on 22 January 2008 in Onalaska, La Crosse County, WI.³⁸¹

Norman Edward ROOT (`~) and Ruth Elaine BERNETT were married on 24 February 1948 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.^93,141,380

She later entered the Mrs. Senior Wisconsin pageant, and won first place. Ruth Elaine BERNETT, daughter of Thomas BERNETT and Odie WILLIAMS, was born on 17 October 1927 in Wisconsin.^93,141,221 She appeared in the census in 1940 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ She died on 24 November 1993 at the age of 66 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.^93,141 Ruth was buried on 29 November 1993 in Onalaska, La Crosse County, WI.⁹³ in the Onalaska Cemetery.

Norman Edward ROOT (`~) and Ruth Elaine BERNETT had the following children: