From 1957 to 1977, Norm was a fighter pilot at the 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard in Sioux City, Iowa. During his career, he flew the T-34, T-28, F-84, F-86, and his favorite…the F-100. During the Vietnam War, Norm and his family were activated at Cannon AFB, Clovis NM, from July 1968 to June 1969, where he was a flight instructor, training Forward Air Controllers who were then deployed to Southeast Asia.
Norman Schaap, Major USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on November 9, 2018.
Norman “Norm” Schaap was the son of Edward (Ed) and Elizabeth (Becky) (Willemstyn) Schaap. He was born at home in Sioux Center, and later the family moved to a farm between Orange City and Sioux Center. There, Norm grew up with his 3 sisters: Elsie, Shirley, and Lorna.
Norm attended country school, West Branch #4, through the 8th grade and then graduated with the class of 1953 from Sioux Center High School. He then attended Northwestern College in Orange City for 2 years during which he joined the Iowa Air National Guard in October 1954. From March 1956 – November 1957, he attended flight schools in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas earning his pilot wings.
On New Year’s Eve 1957, he had a blind date with Anna Marie Jongma. They married on August 26, 1959, at the Hospers Reformed Church. This courtship included several dates when Norm would pick up Anna in his father’s airplane. He would land in the stubble field across the gravel road from Anna’s house to pick her up, and they would “fly around the patch” for their date. Norm earned some of his spending money for these dates by flying over Northwest Iowa towns and throwing movie schedules out the window. He was hired by area movie theaters for this unique advertising method.
From 1957 to 1977, Norm was a fighter pilot at the 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard in Sioux City, Iowa. During his career, he flew the T-34, T-28, F-84, F-86, and his favorite…the F-100. During the Vietnam War, Norm and his family were activated at Cannon AFB, Clovis NM, from July 1968 to June 1969, where he was a flight instructor, training Forward Air Controllers who were then deployed to Southeast Asia.
In 1959, he began working for Johnny’s Electric, which is now known as Interstates Electric, as a self-taught electrician. There he was one of the original 2½ employees for a company that now has almost one thousand employees nationwide. During his career as an electrician, he wired many area schools, churches, grain elevators, industries, and Sioux Center’s original Indoor Pool. In the early 1980’s, Interstates was a growing business and in need of a business airplane. Norm became the company pilot and served in that capacity until 1991. In 2000, he fully retired from Interstates after working there for 41 years. By this time, he was also fully retired from flying after logging 5,000+ hours of flight time, half of which were single engine, single-seat, military fighter jet time.
Norm was known as a man of few words, a deep thinker, and was very patient with those around him. He could fix practically anything and spent his life working with his hands and helping others when they were in need. Norm and Anna’s retirement years were spent primarily traveling – whether that be by ship, air, bus, or car. Their travels took them to all 50 states and 32 countries.
Norm is survived by his wife, Anna, of 59 years, their children Kristin Schaap from Sioux Center; Jane & Christopher Gude from Spencer, Iowa; Gary & Amy Schaap from Beresford, SD; and Candy & Terry English from Reno, NV. He has three grandchildren – Riley, Kendra, and Kayli Schaap from Beresford. He also has two surviving sisters: Elsie (Don) Nibbelink from Lansdale, PA and Lorna (Dave) Moss from Sioux Center and one surviving brother-in-law John (Norma) Van Wyk from Sioux Center.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Shirley Van Wyk.
Source: Norman Duane “Norm” Schaap (1936-2018) – Find a Grave Memorial
