Born on September 5, 1943 in Rockford, IL, Norman (Norm) Wayne Schuler lived his early childhood with his loving family in Garden Prairie, IL in a home with minimal plumbing and no running hot water. He attended school in Garden Prairie and then went to high school in Belvidere, IL where he graduated in 1961.  He joined the Navy after graduation and spent two years as a Sea Bee, including time in Okinawa, before returning to Belvidere and taking a position with GTE.

Connie Husman came into Norm's life in the spring of 1968. She was from Kimball, SD, but was working as a lab tech in a hospital in Belvidere when a friend of Norm's set them up on a blind date.  They clicked right away and were married later that year on November 29, 1968.  Their son, Scott was born on November 22, 1971.  Over the rest of the decade, the family played an important role with Norm's aging parents, helping them move to a senior living facility in Belvidere from their long time home and providing transportation, care, and companionship through Scott's early childhood.

In 1980, Norm's work with GTE transferred him to Lewisville, TX and then to Corpus Christi, TX in 1984. They remained in Corpus Christi until Norm's retirement in 1993 when they moved to Kimball, SD.  In 2000, Norm began work as an insurance claims adjuster, with Connie often doing office work, mainly following disasters in the Midwest.  They began living in Texas during the winter months, soon after.  They worked until 2022, though some winters had more time in the sun than work.  After retirement, they settled into their home in Kimball.

In his younger years, Norm often rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and would often attend the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD.  While living in Corpus Christi, Norm and Scott took sailing lessons and owned a 25' Catalina sailboat.  When he wasn't on his own sailboat, he would often be found racing on a friend's boat or watching the sailboat races.  Norm was also a huge Chicago Bears fan, following the team with a passion and connecting with others who had a similar passion. About a decade ago, Norm began attending Denton Bible church while in Texas, participating in men's Bible studies and becoming a follower of Jesus. Only later did he know that his sister Nancy had been praying for him for decades.  In the most recent years, he began volunteer work at the Tractor Museum in Kimball, finding joy in sharing with others about the machines that he had watched as a child in Illinois.  He was also a passionate reader, devouring books at any spare moment.  Connie said he always had a book with him, filling small spots of time with reading.

Norm was quiet, but for those who got to know him, he had a wonderful, dry sense of humor.  He was smart, kind, thoughtful, and always willing to lend a helping hand.  He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Norm is survived by his wife Connie, son Scott from Sioux Falls, SD, and grandson Anthony from Corpus Christi, TX with wife Miranda, along with numerous extended relatives scattered across the country.  He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Margaret Schuler, his brother Wayne (who died before Norm was born) and sister Nancy Erisman from Bellevue, WA.  Norm and Connie spent the last week of Nancy's life with her in Bellevue, before she died at the end of June.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at the Protestant Church in Kimball.

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