Thank trees for all they do this Arbor Day
From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Enjoy the beauty of April tree blossoms across Iowa neighborhoods.
Trees quietly enhance our daily lives in many ways. They’re like superheroes for our health and our wallets. Neighborhood trees clean the air we breathe and make it fresher. They help keep our houses cooler in the summer and soak up rainwater to help prevent flooding in our neighborhoods.
Being around trees helps us feel less stressed, more focused, and healthier both mentally and physically. Trees make our communities a more pleasant place to live and work.
Here are some fun options to celebrate trees near you this Arbor Day and throughout the year.
- Plant a tree. Check out the How to Plant a Tree from A Container video for tips on how to plant trees properly.
- Discover what trees are growing around you. Iowa’s 10 Most Common Urban Trees can help you identify trees in your yard or neighborhood and learn more about each kind of tree.
- Calculate the benefits of planting trees. It’s easy to estimate the value of planting trees on your property with the i-Tree planting calculator.
- Learn how to prevent wildfires. Smokey Bear lives within us all! Check out our easy and fun activities to prevent wildfires when exploring Iowa’s great outdoor areas.
- Explore all things trees. Use the Tree Scavenger Hunt activity sheet to guide your outdoor adventures.
- Read a book about trees. Visit your local library and ask for books about trees.
- Attend an Arbor Day event. Communities across Iowa will be celebrating Arbor Day with various events including tree plantings, nature walks, and more. Tree City USA Communities across Iowa will host events as well. Attend an Arbor Day event near you.
Norma Lynn (Wallace) Louk was born on Nov. 25, 1941, on a farm near Yale. Her parents were Verne Wallace and Eva (Kriens) Wallace. Norma attended school at the Yale Community School where she played the tuba in band and loved to play basketball. Norma grew up playing outside, following her big brother, Mervin, around the farm. In her adult life, she enjoyed dancing with Gary, sitting on the deck drinking coffee or working in her many flower beds. Norma married Gary Louk on March 4, 1960. Gary and Norma were blessed with four children: Deb Louk of Yale, Denise Petersen (Dale) of Branson, Missouri, Dale (Beverly) Louk of Yale and Dee (Jay) Finnell of Adel. Norma loved children and had a special place in her heart for Roger (Brenda) Snyder, who spent a lot of time at the Yamaha shop and her niece, Roxanne Steburg. The family spent time together motorcycling, snowmobiling, boating, playing volleyball and just hanging out. Norma worked multiple jobs outside the home, including helping Gary run the Yamaha shop. Her favorite job was babysitting for the Kirtleys, Hansens, Wolfes, Snyders and Jenny Cornelius. Before her retirement, Norma spent many years working in the Panora Food Center. Norma was a member of the Pythian Sisters and the United Methodist Women, where she served as Methodist Church for more than 30 years. Norma loved her community and was known to do anything for anyone. She had a heart of gold. She will be greatly missed by the community, her family and friends. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Mervin Wallace; brother-in-law, Dennis Louk; and sisters-in-law, JoAnne Hughes and Sandi Ackerman. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Gary, and her four children. Norma has 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
