Norman Lee Schmidt

Norman Schmidt was born July 18, 1935 in Melrose Park, Illinois. Norm when growing up would deliver newspapers at 3 am until he went to school and then delivered groceries after school until 7pm. He took those funds to buy his parents Leonard and Edna their dining room set. Norm left high school before his 12^th grade due to him failing asleep due to his long hours working to support his family. He moved to California and started at Beverly Hills transfer in March 1957. Norman than enlisted in the Army from May 1958 – May 1960. He spent over 17 months in La Vitroy France where he was a tele crypto technician.

After the Army, Norm returned to California where he went to work at Allied Van Lines in Beverly Hills until 1968 when he started at Global Moving & Storage. During this time, Norm moved some of the A list celebrities like John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr, Lorne Greene, Liberace, and many others. He met his wife Darlene June Giere on a blind date Dec 1960. They married on New Year’s Eve on 1961. Norm and Darlene welcomed their only child, David on August 20, 1966.

Norm remained with Global Moving & Storage until 1986. At that time, Norm was hired at The Boeing Company to be in their license transportation department where helped supervise the semi-trucks and buses for Boeing.  He retired from Boeing in 1997 when he had a total of 40 years in the Teamster Union. Darlene Schmidt passed away May 27, 2001. Norm lived in a couple different places in Renton and Kent until moving in the Chateau Assisted Living near Renton, Washington in August 2015 where he lived until his passing on Jan 13,2021.

Norm and Darlene were also charter members of Nativity Lutheran Church in Fairwood. He spent over 50 years as a member of the church. When he retired from Boeing, he also started to frequent different Starbucks until he settled in getting his daily tea and giving the customers a hard time at the Fairwood store. When he walked into Starbucks, they would say “Norm” similar to the TV show “Cheers”

Norm passed away peacefully on 1/13/2021 due to Kidney and Heart issues. The song playing when he took his last breath was Simon and Garfunkel “Homeward Bound” which is fitting. He is survived by his son David, daughter in law Denise, grandkids Sarah, Colin, and Luke, and three great grandchildren Kasen, Felix, and Oaklee. Sarah is married to Tony Pallares.

His service will be a virtual session on 1/30/2021 at 1pm PST due to COVID restrictions.

Link for Memorial Service:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88659427528?pwd=VUZ6dGEwTVRsWGxMQmxYeXUvbHRPUT09

Meeting ID: 886-5942-7528

Passcode: 559413

Cards may be sent to: 

Dave & Denise Schmidt

24106 236th Ave SE

Maple Valley, WA 98038

Nativity Lutheran Church meant “everything” to Norm. In lieu of flowers, any memorial gifts can be made in honor of him will go toward a new baptismal font.

DONATE | Nativity (nativityrenton.com)

“Generous of heart, constant of faith” will be listed on the gravesite where Norman and Darlene will be at Tahoma National Cemetery. This is very fitting and describes them extremely well.

We would love to hear any comments you might have on Norman Schmidt. 

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