Marianne Gorball

Marianne Gorball (Norski, AKA Mary Ann), 86, lately of Port Isabel, Texas passed away suddenly on October 6, 2025. Funeral services will be held at Chapel by the Sea on South Padre Island at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 11 followed by a luncheon at the American Legion at Port Isabel where Mary was active with the Ladies Auxiliary. A subsequent Celebration of Life will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City at 11 a.m. for family and friends on November 8, 2025 where she will be interred next to her husband Richard.

Mary was born in Forest City, Iowa on June 4, 1939, the daughter of Amos and Myrtle Larson. Mary grew up on a farm west of town and later in town, and graduated from Forest City High School. She married Richard Gorball, son of Harold and Marjorie Gorball, on September 21, 1957. They were blessed with 4 children, Jeffrey, Cynthia, Mischelle, and Kristina. After living in a variety of other locations they settled in Newton, Iowa where they raised their children.

Mary’s husband Richard, also from Forest City, gave Mary her life-long nickname out of jest and love – “Norski”. A nickname that Mary carried proudly, including keeping it as a personalized license plate in Iowa and later in Texas. It is a name that many came to know her by.

After her children reached the age of being able to care for themselves after school Mary began work at Jasper County Savings Bank in Newton where she made her career, working her way from secretary to starting and running the Investment Center as the Broker.

Richard and Mary began winter vacations in the late 1990’s and became “winter Texans” after their retirement in 2000, first renting condos then buying a trailer in 2001 at the Sandpiper trailer park. After Richard’s death Mary bought a condo in Port Isabel and became a permanent resident in early 2004. Mary and Richard were active in the American Legion in Port Isabel (Richard had served in the Marines), and Mary continued her involvement with the Legion and Ladies Auxiliary after his death. She was also active in the local library and museum and donated countless hours volunteering for one thing after another. She was known and loved by many throughout the south Texas region. Mary will be remembered with love for her warmth, devotion to family, and tireless community spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, older brother Roger and two older sisters Iris and Ruth, her husband Richard, and grandson Timothy Gorball. Mary is survived by her older sister Shirley, younger brother Jerry, and niece Penny, her son Jeffrey, and daughters Cynthia (Sunde), Mischelle (Denison) and Kristina (Versteeg), 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers or cards, the family requests a donation in Mary’s name be made to either the American Parkinson Disease Association Iowa Chapter or Hands to Honduras for the Gorball School.