Norbert F. Vieregge, 88, of Norwalk passed away Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born Sept. 3, 1925, in the town of Sheldon to Frederick and Esther (Foth) Vieregge. He grew up on the family farm near Norwalk and lived there until his retirement in 1991. He graduated from Norwalk High School.
On Labor Day, 1955, he met his future wife, Rosella Fiebig at the Avalon Ballroom. They became engaged on Friday, the 13th of July, a day he said was the luckiest day of his life. They were married Sept. 15, 1956, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tomah. Together they raised four children as they worked the family farm in rural Norwalk.
In 1991, they retired from farming and moved to Norwalk. In their retirement, Norbert and Rose enjoyed traveling together, visiting family and sightseeing in Florida, Texas, Washington D.C. and many other places in between. Having met at the Avalon, they enjoyed going to dances as often as they could.
Norbert was a true farmer, nurturing and caring for the land and his animals. He was an accomplished woodworker and craftsman, and after farming for so many years, he seemed to know how to fix or make just about anything. His many furniture pieces and remodeling projects are a reminder of the love and care he put into everything he did. In retirement, he enjoyed gardening and especially sharing the zinnias he grew.
He enjoyed being active in the Norwalk community, serving on the village board and the St. Augustine’s Parish Council, and he was involved in many activities and events in Norwalk. Norbert was always up for a good game of euchre or Pfeiffer with local card-playing friends. He loved having his family near and looked forward to spending time together on any occasion with his children, grandchildren and great-grandson. Norbert had a very deep faith in God and passed that on to his family. His kindness, caring and strong yet gentle spirit will be with us always.
Norbert is survived by his four children, Kathy (Skip) Karis of Onalaska, Wis., Carol (Tom) Brekke of Duluth, Minn., Mary Kay (Bill) Nusse of Norwalk and Mike (Lisa Bradshaw) of Fort Myers, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Thomas, Kelsey and Eric Brekke, Brandon (Jamie Griffith), Brittany (Jacob) Denton, and Billy Nusse, and Robert and Ryan Vieregge; and one great-grandson, Jack Norbert Nusse.
He is further survived by sisters-in-law Marcella Deigmann and Nancy Fiebig and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Rosella; his sister, Eileen Keip; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and his parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 14, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Norwalk. The Rev. Michael Klos will officiate. Burial will be at a later date.
Family and friends are invited for visitation from 4–7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Norwalk, with a rosary to be held at 7 p.m. Family and friends may also call from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. The Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family wishes to thank the staff at MaryCrest Apartments at the Morrow Home in Sparta, the sixth-floor staff and his doctors at Gundersen Health System, Bethany-Riverside Nursing Home, and Dr. Rose Wolbrink for their wonderful care and support.
