Norbert Stellmach, 90, Sauk Rapids

March 21, 1926 - December 16, 2016

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids for Norbert Stellmach, age 90 of Sauk Rapids, who died Friday at the St. Cloud Hospital. Rev. Ralph Zimmerman will officiate and burial will be at MN State Veteran’s Cemetery near Little Falls. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and one hour prior to the services Tuesday at the church in Sauk Rapids. Sauk Rapids American Legion Post 254 will pray at 6:30 followed by parish prayers at 7:00 Monday evening at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids.

Norbert was born March 21, 1926 in Graham Township to John & Clara (Midas) Stellmach. He married Helen Skudlarek on April 12, 1947 in St. Wendel. They moved to Sauk Rapids in 1952 and resided there until 2014 when they moved to Waite Park. Norbert was a Nursing Assistant at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center for 25 years, retiring in 1986. Norb had a self-made feisty entrepreneurial spirit. He was a mink rancher, crafter, owned a car lot, worked at DeZurik’s, drove a truck route, operated vending machines, and had a rabbit and hobby farm while raising 11 children. At age 90, he had hopes to “hang a shingle” as a consultant. He loved to stay busy! He is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sauk Rapids American Legion Post 254. Norbert was a Navy Veteran of WWII. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, puzzles, cribbage, reading, crafting, going to the casino and working.

Survivors include his children, Mary (Donald) Wahnschaffe of Monticello, Roger (Glenna) of Toleson, AZ, Connie (Gary) Hirt of Mt. Juliet, TN, Bruce (Pam) of Sartell, Jim (Patty) of Sauk Rapids, Randy (Diane) of Sauk Rapids, Carol Morris of Rice, Sharon (Mike) Hickman of Portland, OR, Debbie (Mike) Ireland of Stillwater, Nancy Stellmach of Portland, OR, Kathy (Dave) Backes of St. Cloud; brother, Rich of Yulee, FL; sisters, Dorothy Skudlarek of Sartell, Virginia Schmitz of St. Cloud, Lucille Schrepfers of St. Paul; 21 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen on September 11, 2015; sister, Theresa Dullinger; brothers, Alphonse, Ben and Tom.