Norman Wayne VanLaningham

BORDENARO, FERGUSON, GUSTAFSON, GUTZEIT, HOFSTADTER, SHONKA, VANLANINGHAM, WITTMAYER

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 12/15/2022 at 22:46:58

Norman Wayne VanLaningham (86) of Independence, IA formerly from Ft Worth TX, passed away on Friday, November 11, 2022 at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, IA.

Norm was born at his parent’s home in Byron Township on May 27th, 1936. Norman is the son of the late Veva Mae (Ferguson) and Therman Victor VanLaningham. Norman attended grade school at the Byron Township one room schoolhouse and was a graduate of Independence High School in 1954. He then attended Iowa State University before becoming a paratrooper with the Army’s 82nd Airborne, 1955 -1957. After his discharge, he returned to Iowa to assist with the family farm in Buchanan County.

In July 1959 he was united in marriage with Judy May Shonka. They moved to the family farm and had
four children. They later divorced.

In 1969, Norman left his Iowa farming career and moved to Houston, TX to work for Delta Airlines. There he met and married Josie Mae Bordenaro, whom he has since divorced. In 1972, Norman accepted a transfer with Delta Airlines to the new Dallas Ft. Worth Airport (DFW). Norman retired from Delta Airlines in 1994. He and Josie remained in the Ft Worth area and Norman worked as a mowing
contractor for various developers and the City of North Richland Hills. Norman and Josie did a lot of traveling both abroad and domestically during this time.

During his retirement and traveling years, Norman became the self-appointed, sole writer and editor of the non-sanctioned “Delta Van” newsletter. He kept up on the interesting lives and facts of his Delta friends, colleagues, and retirees for more than 25 years. His frequent email distribution list was filled with 100’s of well-wishing friends who looked forward to the latest emails containing interesting tidbits of friendly news, famous quotes, and sadly, death notices of fellow employees.

In 2020, Norman's health was failing and he surrendered the lawn mowing chores and settled into email correspondence and doctor's appointments.

Norman returned to Iowa in March of 2022. These past months he has been busy reconnecting with his
children and his Iowa roots. He has contacted classmates and visited many childhood friends and
neighborhoods.

Norm was a lover of nature, windmills, eagles, bobcats, wolves, old barns, and Texas-sized diamondback rattlesnake hunting. He made several trips to Iowa’s Eldorado State Park to soak in the view overlooking the rolling hills of NE Iowa. He claims that in all his world travels it is the most beautiful and peaceful place on earth.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, a younger sister, Nancy Lou, and his brother-in-law
Howard Gustafson.

He is survived by his children, Kevin VanLaningham, Kris VanLaningham, and Karmalyn VanLaningham all of Independence, IA. Kathrine (Mark) Gutzeit of Nora Springs IA. his grandchildren, Bret (Jessica) Wittmayer, Jr. of Waterloo, IA. Kelsie VanLaningham of Olathe, KS, Kylie VanLaningham of Cedar Falls, IA, and Connor Hofstadter of Waterloo, IA. He is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren, his sister, Lynda Gustafson of Phoenix, AZ, 3 nieces,1 nephew, 8 cousins, and his special friend, Judy Shonka

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the Reiff Family Center – Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, IA. The burial will be held at Wilson Cemetery in Independence, IA. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Norman W. VanLaningham Memorial fund at Bank Iowa. The family plans on using the funds to benefit Fontana Park.