In Loving Memory
Arlan "Jack" Van Norman

CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Saturday, October 3, 2020
4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Ruthven, Iowa

Arlan "Jack" Van Norman was born December 3, 1924 in a farmhouse outside of Spencer, Iowa. He graduated from Dickens High School in 1942. Following graduation Jack went on to Cadet training in Texas and then into the United States Army. At the tender age of 19, Jack served in WWII, flying DC-3's over the hump in China. One of his flight trips was to pick up some of the Doolittle survivors. He celebrated his 20th birthday overseas.

After being honorably discharged from the service, Jack went to college where he met Arlene Griffith. They were united in marriage in 1949 and were blessed with two sons, John and Charles. Jack graduated from Pharmacy College in 1952. He and Arlene were married for 52 years, until Arlene's death in 2001.

In 1953, Jack purchased the drug store in Swea City, Iowa. In 1963, he remodeled the old bank building and operated that store until February 2005.

Jack's love of people let him to be involved in many activities in the community. One of his passions was mentoring the young people in town. He was a long-time member of the School Board and supported and promoted the National Honor Society. Jack was a Boy Scout leader for 10 years and member of the Boy Scout Council for 50 years. He earned the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award that can be earned in Scouting.

As an avid supporter of his community, Jack was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Commander of the V.F.W., President of the Lion's Club, President of the Library Board, Immanuel Lutheran Church Council and Medical Building Committee.

Enriching his career as a pharmacist, he belonged to the Iowa Pharmacy Association, served on the Iowa Board of Health, and the Iowa Board of Pharmacy. He received the Bowl of Hygeia Award for Pharmacy. Jack was always encouraging young people to seek a career in pharmacy and many that worked for him in the drugstore did seek careers in the medical field.

In 1976, Jack purchased a cabin on Lost Island Lake near Ruthven and began to build a new cabin the lot, working weekends and holidays to complete the cabin that he continued to enjoy even this summer.

As much as Jack like to hunt and fish, he had a life-long love of flying. Flying model planes as a child, DC-3's in WWII, his own planes, and drones down in Texas. He always kept proficient and even flew Terry Branstadt, the Governor of Iowa, on several trips. There were many family flights to Florida.

In 2004, Jack reconnected with an old high school sweetheart, Sylvia Holmberg. They were married until Sylvia's death in 2010.

When Jack was 90 years old, he wrote a book, Flying the Hump with Captain Jack in which he recalled some of his flying days in WWII and personal memories.

In 2011, Jack was married to Evelyn Riebe, who later passed away in 2020.

Left to cherish the memories that Jack provided them are his sons John (wife Robin), Charles (wife Joan); Granddaughters Stephanie (her children Autumn & Brantley), Jillian (Jimmy Krieg & their children Andrew, Nickolas & Emerson), and Katrina Van Norman, Grandson Bryan (wife Sara & their daughter Elodie), his brother Jerry Van Norman & family, as well as all of the many, many friends he made during his lifetime.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home