NORMA JEAN (KELLEY) SCHNASE

Class of 1948
​Inducted in 1991

Norma Jean was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 1991.

Norma Jean is a product of both Hawthorne Elementary School and SHS. 

Norma Jean became known as "Miss Jean," the writer, producer and presenter of a religious program called "Jean's Storytime" on Channel 3 - KMTV.  The program, started in 1956, was to run 13 Sundays and was intended to reach "unchurched children" as Jean told how God loved each person, shared Bible stories, and presented a moral lesson by showing picture she asked children to draw and send weekly.  The program is seen in parts of Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri and reaches thousand of children and adults weekly from September through May.  It is the longest running television program in the area and started it's 40th season in 1991.  "Jean's Storytime" has received three Gold Frame Awards from the Omaha Radio and Television Council.

Jean was named Woman of the Year by FOE Women's Auxiliary in 1981.  She has been a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in South Omaha since 1939, and over the years has taught Bible School, Confirmation Classes, and Adult Bible Classes.  She has taught at Puppetry Workshops, Communication Workshops, Lutheran Youth Camps and twice went to Mexico to spread the word of God on mission trips.

Other community activities include Cub Scouts, Brownie Troop, President of Ashland Park Elementary School PTA, South High PTL, presenting programs in Easter Seal Summer Camps, participating in Easter Seal Telethons and giving hundreds of speeches to area communities about "Jean's Storytime."

After a truly remarkable 55 year run, "Jean's Storytime" ended in 2011.