Enumclaw resident Norbert Edward Schmidt, 84, died March 30, 2012.

He was born Jan. 31, 1928, in Tripp, S.D., to Bertha and Otto Schmidt, the second of five children. He graduated from Yankton College with a major in Mathematics and minors in education and physical education. He lettered in track and basketball. He was recruited to play and travel with the Harlem Globetrotters on the opposing team called the “House of David.” He taught and coached high school in Menno, S.D., for eight years before he accepted a grant to study in a graduate program in math and physics at the University of South Dakota and then University of Missouri. He completed master’s degrees in math and physics. He was recruited by North American Aviation and spent the majority of his career in the aerospace industry, working on projects such as the B-1 bomber and GPS military receivers.

He married Jean Liptak in 1979 and inherited a 9-year old daughter, Lori. They lived in Los Angeles, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and then back to Los Angeles. After retiring from Rockwell International, he became vice president of an engineering company providing services to military installments. After again retiring and settling in Enumclaw in 1992 he took on a position as an adjunct professor of mathematics at Green River Community College where he taught for the last 16 years.

He was and active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Auburn for the past 18 years, acting as their congregation’s president for most of that time. He was also instrumental in starting Mount Rainier Lutheran High School in Tacoma.

He is survived by daughter Lori Gosney of Enumclaw; sister Karan Brooks; brother William Schmidt; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by wife Jean Schmidt in 2002.

A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7, at Zion Lutheran Church in Auburn. Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Park in Enumclaw.

Memorials in his name are suggested to Mount Rainier Lutheran High School, 7306 Waller Rd. E., Tacoma, 98443.

Services are by Weeks’ Enumclaw Funeral Home. All are invited to sign the online guest book at www.weeksfuneralhomes.com.