Norman "Timer" McCombs, 94 of Deep River passed away Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2020 at the Mayflower Care Center in Grinnell. Due to the restrictions put in place by the Department of Public Health due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, private burial will be held in the Golden Rod Cemetery in Deep River. A Celebration of Life with full military rites will be held at a later time. Memorials may be directed to Morrison-Schrader Post 296 American Legion or the Deep River Volunteer Fire Department and sent to the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in care of Norman McCombs; P.O. Box 727; Montezuma, Iowa 50171. Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.hollandcoblefuneralhomes.com.

Norman Van "Timer" McCombs was born on the family farm near South English, Iowa during a blizzard on March 29, 1926 to Clela and Ralph McCombs. He was one of six children. When a small boy, his job was to get the kindling for the cookstove. His trips were so lengthy the family would say, "Here comes the Old Timer." The name stuck and even his mother never called him by his given name. Timer spent his early years farming with his dad and graduated from English Valley High School. He joined the United States Army, served in post-war Japan, and was honorably discharged.

On June 21, 1953 he was united in marriage to Patricia "Joan" Townsend. They had four children, Steven, Marcy, John, and Elizabeth. They farmed near Deep River for fifty years. Timer was also a rural route mailman for the U.S. Postal Service for 24 years, delivering to customers near Deep River, Guernsey, and Millersburg. Timer loved his family, his rural route customers, farming, his livestock, and his country. He liked a good joke, and bad ones, too. He enjoyed hunting and the outdoors. He had an infectious smile and knew no stranger. Timer was a 50-year member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, and Eastern Stars.

Timer was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, a daughter, Liz (Steve) Fleming, a son, Steven (Rhonda) McCombs, and a grandson, Ryan McCombs. His memory is honored by his sisters, Bernadine Warner and Marilyn (Del) Gilmore, a daughter and son, and seven grandchildren; Sara (Jim) Sherman, Tanner (Allie) Van Roekel, Amanda Lincoln, Jeff Van Voorhis, Samantha McCombs, Michael (Anita) Van Rheenen, and Nic Fleming, and many nieces and nephews. He had five great-grandchildren, Nora and Coen Sherman, Madison and Ethan Roberts and Brooks Vosburg.

A special thank you to The Mayflower Health Center Nurses and staff for their loving care the past eight years and to Unity Point Hospice.