Norman James Veach Jr.

Norman James Veach Jr

(February 6, 1950 - May 29, 2020)

Our beloved Father, Grandfather, Brother, Husband and Friend, was the first of three children born to Norman James, Sr and Ruth Leota (Owen) in the territory of Alaska.  He spent his childhood in Alaska, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho.  After graduating from Idaho Falls High School in 1968, Norm attended CalTech before enlisting in the Army in 1971 and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.

On April 14, 1972, he married his childhood sweetheart Lorraine Orel (Lawyer) and started his own family.  They enjoyed a honeymoon in Colorado before the army moved the happy couple overseas to Germany. They returned to the States and were stationed in San Antonio, TX, where they had their first set of twins, Ann and Melanie, in 1976.  The growing family finished their military service and relocated to Moscow, ID where in 1980 they had their second set of twins, Jill and Donna, in Pullman, WA.

Norm attended the University of Idaho where he earned his BS in Physics in 1978 and his masters in Organizational Management in 1980, while also serving in the Army National Guard. The family moved where his job took him, working for McDonald Douglas, living in Anaheim, CA; Hughes Missiles System, living in Simi Valley CA; Boeing, living in Orange, CA; and United Launch Alliance, living in Littleton, CO. Norm worked on projects such as the Delta Rocket design team, the Brilliant Pebbles (aka Star Wars) defense contract, and helped Japan, Turkey, and Greece develop their space program. His family loved to tease him with rocket scientist jokes and groaned at his puns. Although Norm made many contributions in his field of building and guiding rockets/satellites, and he really enjoyed the launches, his favorite parts of his jobs were working on a team and mentoring younger engineers.

Norm’s family was his pride and joy. The family of six grew when Ann married Todd Ermer, and introduced him and Lorraine to the joys of being grandparents with the birth of Lydia. The family grew again when Donna married Nick Andrew and gave him a grandson, Michael. Norm was heartbroken with the unexpected loss of his wife, Lorraine, in 2007.  Later, Melanie married Aaron Conn and gave Norm another grandson, Wesley.

Norm was blessed to fall in love again and married Beckie (Waltz) on March 24, 2011. He cherished having more children and grandchildren to love including Brian and Tawnya Waltz and their sons Josh and Zach, Leslie Wagner and her daughter Beca, and Randy Waltz. Norm and Beckie were blessed by the birth of more grandchildren: Randy Jr (RJ), son of Randy and Tiffany (RJ’s death on March 15, 2013 broke the family’s hearts), Zoey daughter of Randy & Tiffany, and Liam, son of Randy & Shelby. During this time Norm enjoyed traveling with Beckie all over the US to visit their family. They settled in Rio Rancho, NM near where Beckie grew up. Not surprisingly, Norm’s favorite Bible verse was Matthew 19:14, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

Norm was an active member of Anaheim United Methodist Church (UMC), Simi Valley UMC, St Luke’s UMC, and Rio Rancho UMC. He enjoyed participating in numerous Bible studies, UMM, church choir, Marriage Encounter, and countless service & outreach ministries. Norm was a selfless, kind hearted, loving, humorous, and brilliant man. He never quit learning, auditing advanced physics and calculus courses at Denver University and online courses right up to the end. His favorites were quantum physics, radio astronomy and dark matter and energy.

In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Norm is survived by his siblings: Ruth (Lapsley) and husband Ed, Don and his wife Joan, Janet (Button) and her husband Israel. He also leaves behind his sisters in law Marilyn (Lawyer) Trosper and husband Brad, Carol (Lawyer) Simpson,  Linda Loushine and husband Joe, and brother in law David Large McGee and husband Ed, as well as nieces and nephews. 

Norm was blessed to have the loving care of Legacy Hospice and Home Helpers this past year who became like family to him - Gracie, Melissa and Carema in particular. 

Although we are grieving the loss of our beloved family member and friend, we are comforted that Norm has won his fight against Parkinson’s and is with our Lord and Savior hearing Jesus tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-892-9920