Norman Marvin Ahrens, 86, of Beloit, WI passed away at Beloit Health and Rehabilitation Center on October 7th, 2025 of natural causes.  Norm was born in Prairie du Chien, WI on March 10th, 1939 to the late Leonard and Virginia Ahrens.

After graduating from Beloit Memorial Highschool, Norm worked with his dad blacktopping roads and excavating throughout Rock County as LH Blacktopping Company.  He met Donna Mae Melby when she worked as their company’s secretary and they eloped on October 2nd, 1961.  They were married 59 years before she preceded him in death in March of 2021.  Norm also drove semi for Dobson’s Trucking, and Freeman Shoes, but was most proud of his Ahrens Excavating Company where he dug basements, septic systems, and swimming pools.  Many people joked that Norm could pick up a dime with his backhoe.

Norm loved fishing, with Donna snuggled in the boat with a good book and usually one of the grandkids.  He was also a huge teaser and practical joker.  Many a young men found themselves drenched from an upper window as they knocked on the door for one of his daughters. His sense of humor will live on in all of his grandchildren. He also loved swimming, whether in the pool at the family farm in Prairie, or in the backyard pool he dug himself where he taught all his girls to swim.  Mostly, Norm loved being on a machine – from the lawn mower and old Ford tractor, to his backhoe or caterpillar, or just driving his dump truck from job to job.

In addition to Norm’s wife and parents, he was preceded by his brother-in-law Glen Melby, several aunts and uncles, daughter Jodi Martin, and grandsons Michael Martin and Army Cpl. Benjamin H. Neal.

Norm is survived by his sister Marilyn (Jim) Martingilio, and daughters Melinda (James) Brancamp, Trisha (Donald) Neal, and Kris (Kirt) Hoscheit.  Norm dearly loved his grandchildren Kayleigh (Adam) Cleary, Elise Grunder, Laura (Eric) Kohenke, Brittney (Eric) Voigt, Bradley (Audree) Neal, Rebecca (Kevin) Wellnitz, Brendan Neal, Brooke (Rusty) Cook, Bridgette Neal, Elizabeth (Nick) Henning, Emma (Peter) Braun, and Eli Hoscheit as well as great grandchildren Felina and Waylon Cleary, Kendell and Albert Grunder, Mackenzie and Korbin Kohenke, Owen and Myles Voigt, Rosetta, Emmerson, and Victor Neal, Chase, Dawson, Reese and Oliver Wellnitz, Madilyn and Morgan Cook, and Theodore Henning.  He is also survived by his nephew Troy (Pamela) Martingilio, and his dear cousin and friend Lowell Ahrens.

Thank you to the staff at Beloit Health and Rehab, they loved him and spoiled him rotten and he loved them back.

Services will be held at Brian Mark Rosman Funeral Homes, 1000 E. Inman Parkway, Beloit and will include a visitation on Friday, October 17th from 10am – 12 noon.  Funeral service will be given by Larry Froemming at 12 noon with burial following at Plymouth Cemetery on county road H.  Luncheon to follow at the residence of Kirt and Kris Hoscheit, 6387 South State Road 213, Beloit.