VENTURA, IOWA —Dr. Norman Max Held, 87, of Ventura, Iowa, died March 22 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. He was born Aug. 27, 1926, in Great Bend, the son of Leonard Henry and Verna Viola (Lupardis) Held. Following high school he attended Kansas State College obtaining a degree in Agriculture and pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was a first lieutenant as adjutant and served in Denver, Colo., at Lowry Air Force Base and TDY at Chamfer, Ga., during the Korean War. He married Barbara Joanne Rodgers Dec. 28, 1951, while in the service. Following the service, he returned to Kansas State University for a degree in Veterinary Medicine and also obtained a degree in biological science.
He moved to Ventura, Iowa, in 1959 and became partners with Dr. Lowell Johnson until 1977. He hired Dr. Darrell Neuberger as partner in 1978,  sold the practice to him in 1992, but continued to work for Dr. Neuberger on a part-time basis until 1996.
Doc married Dorothy Hinrichs on Feb. 28, 1992, in Ventura, Iowa.
He was a life member of the American Veterinary Medicine Assn.; and life member of the Iowa Veterinary Medicine Assn. He was a member of Ventura United Methodist Church, where he served as choir director, board of trustees and assistant organist. He served on the Ventura City Council for 36 years and was mayor for 10 years. He was a member of the Ventura Gun Club, organizing and teaching the youth trapshooting program for 35 years. It was the largest trapshooting organization in Iowa. He was on the Board of Directors of the Ventura State Bank and Community State Bank for 15 years.
Doc enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapshooting and was an avid supporter of the Ventura High School athletic program.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy Held, Ventura Iowa; a daughter, Shelley (Henry) Szipszky, Cape Coral, Fla.; stepchildren Gene (Kathy) Hinrichs, Ventura, Iowa, and Gayle (Robert) Petersen, Ringsted, Iowa; two grandchildren; Breanne (Martin) Hood, Anchorage, Alaska, and Lucas (Amanda) Szipszky, Wasilla, Alaska; and three great grandchildren, Michael Craven, and Treyden and Gavin Szipszky. He also had two stepchildren Scott Hinrichs, Ventura, Iowa, and Sarah (Doug) Thein, Ventura, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Held; wife, Barbara Joanne Held and son, Stanley Held.

Great Bend Tribune, April 29, 2014