Great-grandfather, volunteer, aerospace engineer

Longtime Claremont resident Norm Bortscheller died of heart failure on July 8. Norm was born on June 18, 1932, on a farm in Oyens, Iowa. In 1941, the family left the farm and moved to Gardena, California.

Soon after graduating from St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach in 1951, Norm joined the U.S. Air Force. He trained as an aerial photographer, and worked with the Strategic Air Command B-36 crew in Korea. After his discharge from the service in 1956 he attended Northrup Aeronautical Institute. On completion of his engineering studies, he worked for Aerojet in Azusa until his retirement in 1991. In 1977, while working full time, he earned a master’s degree in management at Claremont Graduate Drucker School of Management.

He met Pat Collins at a beach party, and they married in 1957 at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena. The couple moved to Claremont in 1960, where they raised their four children. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, The Red Cross, The Economy Shop, and Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church.

After his 1991 retirement he audited classes at the Claremont Colleges, did disaster relief work for the American Red Cross, and served on the boards of The Economy Shop and Inter Valley Health Plan. “For the past 12 years Pat and Norm have enjoyed living at Mount San Antonio Gardens where they have many dear friends,” his family shared.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Frances Bortscheller; sisters, Bonnie Pryor and Maureen Hedgecock; and children, Mark and Dana.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Patricia; daughter Ann (Bill); son John (Chantille); daughter-in-law Un Chi; grandchildren, Steven, Lauren (Jordan), William, Christina (Jason), and Evan; great-grandson, Joshua; and many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.

“He will be remembered for his warm heart and exemplary commitment to serving family, church, community, and country,” his family said.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church.