Norman Benjamin Schmeltzer III

Norman Benjamin Schmeltzer III, 75, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025. Born in 1949 in Davenport, Iowa, he was the son of Norman Benjamin Schmeltzer, Jr. and Gerda Elizabeth Michel Schmeltzer. He graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1967.

A man of great ambition and dedication, Norm graduated from California State University at Long Beach in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology. He furthered his education at the U.S. Army Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he graduated first in his class as an Intel Analyst.

In December 1972, Norm proudly joined the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent assigned to the Los Angeles field office. He resigned in October of 1975 to pursue his passion for law, enrolling at Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in June of 1978. After an internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Norm opened a successful law firm in Orange County, California, which he continued to operate until the days leading to his passing.

It was during his time with the Secret Service that Norm met his beloved wife, Jane Harrington, who was the seventh female agent hired by the Secret Service and assigned to Los Angeles. The couple were married on July 19, 1975, becoming the first two agents to marry within the Secret Service. They were eagerly looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this coming July, a milestone that truly reflected the strength and enduring love of their remarkable journey together. Norm’s legacy lives on through his devoted wife, Jane, their two daughters, Megan Schmeltzer Foseid and Katie Schmeltzer Weber, his five cherished grandchildren, Bennett, Daniel, Willa, Anna Jane, and Sutton, along with his sister, Christine Schmeltzer Johnson, brother, Kurt Michel Schmeltzer, nieces Tessa and McKenna Johnson, and nephews, Michael and Max Schmeltzer.

Norm was a man of extraordinary kindness and generosity. He had a remarkable ability to make everyone he met feel special and heard. His deep friendships and his unwavering love for those around him were a testament to his character, and his absence leaves an irreplaceable void in the lives of all who knew him.

Following a Mass at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California, on Friday, April 25, a Celebration of Norm’s Life was held at the Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, California. Andrew McMahon (Jack’s Mannequin) a family friend, performed one of Norm’s favorite songs “Swim” to over 150 friends and family gathered to honor his incredible life. Norm loved the ocean and all water sports including water skiing, scuba diving and skin diving. He loved to travel and to sail on his sailboat, the Stormin Norman. Norm gave new meaning to balancing challenging and meaningful work as a lawyer with having FUN which he fully embraced during his life.

A German farewell toast concluded the Celebration of Life for Norm: 

Dem Leben sind Grenzen gesetzt, Die Liebe ist grenzenlos.

Life has limits, but love has no bounds.