Norman L. Zafft, 90, of Estelline, passed away Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, July 16, 2016 at the Estelline Arena, in Estelline. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Estelline.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be sent to Mt Calvary Lutheran Church and the American Legion in Estelline.

Norman Le Roy Zafft was born to Albert and Georgia (Hart) Zafft on September 2nd, 1925 in Lebanon, SD. He attended grade school in Lebanon and Sioux Falls, and country school in White and Tolstoy, SD. He attended Washington High School in Sioux Falls for three years before graduating from Lebanon High School in 1943.

Norm joined the US Navy at the age of 17 and was assigned to the USS Enterprise, the most decorated ship of World War II. He earned 13 battle stars and received ribbons for the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, American Theater, Navy Unit Citation, Presidential Unit Citation, British Admiralty ribbon, and the good conduct bar. After his discharge in March 1946, he returned to his employment at John Morrell in Sioux Falls before attending the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1949, he and his brother Clarence purchased the locker plant in Estelline. In 1961, they purchased the Fairway grocery store and named it the Zafft Jack & Jill. In 1963, Norm became a rural mail carrier and retired in 1990 after 31 years of service.

Norm married Charlotte Veneklasen on October 12th, 1952. They had three children: Terry, Jeanne, and Jackie.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He belonged to Mt Calvary Lutheran Church (WELS) in Estelline and held all the church offices. He was the church treasurer for over 30 years.

Norm was active in many military organizations during his life. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 184, in Estelline for 73 years. He was a past state athletic commissioner, past post commander, and held many other offices within the Legion. He was also a member of the VFW, Post #628, in Sioux Falls, and the DAV, chapter #22, in Brookings. Norm was a past president, past vice president, and member of the USS Enterprise CV-6 Association since 1955.

Norm was also very active within his community. He was city treasurer, city council member, original hospital board member, original care center committee member, volunteer ambulance, volunteer firefighter, commercial club member, and PTA treasurer.

In his spare time, Norm enjoyed taking family vacations with Charlotte and the kids, golfing/fishing/hunting with his friends, raising sheep, and watching the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins.

Norm is survived by his wife, Charlotte Zafft of Estelline; two children, Terry Zafft of Edgerton, MN and Jackie Zafft of Estelline; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Dennis Zafft of Houston, TX; four sisters-in-law, Sharon Ribstein of Brookings, Betty Veneklasen of Rapid City, Ruth Zafft of Mabel, MN, and Tre Zafft of Houston, TX; one brother-in-law, Gordon Ribstein of Brookings; one son-in-law, Don Collins of Huron, and many nephews, nieces, and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Jeanne Collins; his parents, Albert and Georgia; his in-laws, Clarence and Leona Veneklasen; his brothers, Clarence, Herb, and Earl; his sister Phyllis Sanders, his brothers-in-law, Lenny Veneklasen and Oten "Sandy" Sanders, his sisters-in-law, Grace and Gladys, his nephew, Scott Veneklasen; and his great-grandchild, Trevor Buys.