Norbert Pohl

Norbert was a generous, humble man who took great joy in serving his family and community. A lifelong farmer, Norbert appreciated the beauty of God's creation, and lived with a wonderful sense of humor, a cheerful and strong work ethic and a quiet generosity. A loving husband, proud father, grandfather and great grandpa, Norbert was truly a blessing.

The year 1922 marks the infancy of the decade known as the Roaring Twenties. For Louis and Catherine (Thelen) Pohl, the year 1922 was filled with joy and anticipation as they prepared their home in Fowler, Michigan for the birth of their first child. On March 7, 1922, they welcomed their firstborn into their lives, a baby boy they named Norbert.

Norbert, raised in a devout Catholic family, soon became the big brother to eight siblings. As his father, a veteran of WWI, supported the family by working as a farmer, Norbert spent his childhood surrounded by the cows, horses, chickens, pig and sheep raised on the family farm. Norbert developed a great love for farming during his childhood, and when he grew older and began to attend school, he was eager to return home to help out. Aside from helping out with chores, Norbert enjoyed ice skating and playing cards with his siblings. The Pohl family was a close knit bunch, and only spoke German in their home. When Norbert began attending school in a one room school house, he, along with his first grade teacher, Mrs. Walch, soon discovered how challenging learning English can be for a first grader. As he grew older, Norbert attended Holy Trinity School, where he studied until 8th grade. Once he had completed the 8th grade, he eagerly returned home to help out on the dairy farm. Later, when Norbert was older, he took on great responsibility in helping raise his younger siblings, and was devoted to making sure they all received their education.

Norbert was proud of his work as a farmer, and always exhibited excellent work ethic. He worked hard, farming about 120 acres total. Often, he used a team of horses to work a 10 acre field. In the year 1945, Norbert attended a dance at the Sturgis Opera House in Fowler, Michigan. While there, he met a young woman named Marian. Marian was attending school in Lansing, Michigan, but after meeting Norbert, she made weekend visits to Fowler a priority. The two soon decided that they were meant for each other, and in the year 1947 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler, Norbert married his one and only, Marian.

After their wedding, Norbert worked tirelessly cutting timbers by hand to build a home for his parents in town. Having accomplished this, Norbert and Marian began their new life together in the family farm house. Before long, the happy newlyweds became parents, and had ten wonderful children together. Norbert was a proud father, and was a great role model to his children. Always showing a great sense of humor, he also showed his children the importance of sacrifice and discipline, rising each day at 5 AM and waking the house with his favorite greeting, "Rise and shine, it's a sunny day in California!". He was also fond of dipping into his German roots, and often used German sayings like "goot amudia", or "good morning" and "mach's gut", meaning "make good."

Norbert showed great dedication to providing a wonderful childhood for his children. Every Sunday, he and his family attended 8:30 mass together, followed by Marian's homemade pie and ice cream at home. Throughout the year, Norbert provided special entertainment for his kids, with a private pool in the cow's water trough in the summers and ice rinks in the flooded yard in the winter. He would also plow snow extra high, allowing for great games of king of the mountain. And in the fall, Norbert encouraged and took great delight in seeing his kids create haunted houses in the grainery, workshop and barn.

In his retirement, Norbert pursued woodworking, and skillfully crafted cribs, wooden toys and games for his grandkids. He even crafted a potty chair, complete with a book rack. And for each grandchild's wedding, Norbert commemorated the event by etching the date on a wooden heart that was placed on a wishing well. Aside from woodworking, Norbert also enjoyed traveling with his wife. Marian loved to dance, she and Norbert would often don Western attire and square dance together in halls all over Michigan. The two were able to visit all fifty states throughout the course of their marriage, and purchased a spoon from each one. They also enjoyed trips to the Bahamas and Europe. Norbert also loved to play cards, especially Euchre, and to this day remains the reigning Pohl family Euchre champion.

Norbert lived a life of service, showing great dedication to both his family and his community. He was an active parishioner of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, an honorary life member of the Fourth Degree, and a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Norbert was a founding board member of many community and parish organizations including RAVE House, served as a Trustee and Fund Drive Chairman for Hazel I. Findley County Manor, was a member of the Fowler High School Board of Education and was a Parish Eucharist Outreach minister. In his early retirement, Norbert also volunteered at Carson City Hospital, and at age 78 would joke about how he was helping the elderly. He also enjoyed volunteering his time to transport inmates at the Clinton County Jail. Sadly, in the year 2005, Norbert's beloved wife of fifty seven years, Marian, passed away. Soon after that, Norbert's health began to decline. On November 2, 2010, Norbert passed away peacefully at home.

Norbert lived his life with humility and tremendous integrity. A generous, disciplined man, Norbert was driven by his love for serving his family and community, and blessed countless people through his hard work and dedication. A loving husband, father, grand father and great grandfather, Norbert was truly beloved throughout his life, and will be deeply missed.

Norbert was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his sisters, Sister Adeline and Sister Dorothy Pohl, and Rosalyn (Delbert) Smith; his sister-in-law, Helen (Gerald) Pohl and his grandson, Benjamin Simon. Norbert is survived by his children, Robert (Gayle), Stan (Patty), Allen (Ellen) , Jerome (Ann Marie) and Mel (Pam) Pohl, Marie (Eric) Cross, Cathy (John) Leabu, Sue (Dean) Schrauben, Carol Crichton, and Phyllis (Mark) Ventocilla, 47 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren; brothers, Fr. Leon , Gerald (Joan) and Joe (Marie) Pohl; sisters, Sister Bernadine and Sister Mary Ann Pohl.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler with Fr. Dennis Howard presiding, burial will be at the Most Holy Trinity Cemetery following the mass. Norbert’s family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes in Fowler with a rosary prayed at 3 pm and a vigil service at 8 pm. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund. To learn more about Norbert and view his Life Story Film, visit his personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/63545.