Lt. Col. Merle Edward (Ed) Norem

Lt. Colonial Merle Edward (Ed) Norem passed away on March 3, 2022. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00am on Monday, March 14, 2022, at First Baptist Church Chapel. Arrangements are by Cox-Rowley Funeral Directors of Amarillo.

Ed was born to Manley and Edith Norem on April 7, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa. Known as “The Norem Kids”, Ed and his brother and sister sang on Des Moines’ WHO radio. “Little Eddie” and his siblings shared the spotlight with other stars of the day including Andy Williams and sports announcer Ronald “Dutch” Reagan. Ed loved big band music and performed with small group bands while attending Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1951, Ed joined the United States Air Force. He served for 29 years retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. As a fighter pilot, Ed won the “Top Gun” award twice. He also served as a flight commander, base safety officer, and Civil Air Patrol liaison officer. After retiring from the Air Force, Ed worked as a safety inspector for American States Insurance Company where he surveyed commercial properties located in the Southwest United States.

Prior to joining the Air Force, Ed began dating Dora Deanne Struth, who he had met in high school. Ed and Dora married at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas on June 21, 1952, the day that Ed graduated from pilot training school. The couple had 4 children and traveled together to various assignments all over the United States. Ed also served solo tours in Iceland and Korea. During his Air Force career, Ed, Dora, and their children lived in 14 states. Ed and Dora enjoyed entertaining and were involved in various activities at all the military bases, wherever they lived. Additionally, they were very involved in the base church choirs. Not only were they choir members, Ed often served as choir director. Ed and Dora were married for 63 years. Ed was a Christian and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He possessed a great sense of humor and was a fantastic storyteller. Ed was also known for his love of desserts, candy, and milkshakes, and for his great stories about his many adventures as a fighter pilot. Ed’s best advice to everyone was to make as many memories as possible and those memories will entertain you when you are older!

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Dora Norem, his son Ronald E. (Ron) Norem, his parents, Manley and Edith Norem, his brother, Hal Norem, and sister, Dorothy Treanor. Survivors include daughters Connie Swicegood (Steve), and Debbie Norem of Amarillo, and son, Tim Norem of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ed is also survived by his grandchildren Erica Swicegood-Farris, Jimmy Swicegood, Leslie Snyder, Jackie Salwolke, Christopher Norem, Christina Bolton, Katie Hodges, and 14 greatgrandchildren.

St. Peter recently reported seeing a fighter jet streaking across the sky. The jet made a low barrel roll pass over Heaven’s Gates and the pilot completed a perfect soft landing on that Runway of Gold reserved for Aviators. As Ed climbed out of the cockpit, he was smiling broadly and happy to be Home. There was a cheering group of old pilot buddies and family members there to greet him. After the hugs and handshakes, the Lord took Ed aside and said “welcome home!”