- Date Of Birth: July 9, 1938
- Date Of Death: May 3, 2020
- State: Illinois
Norman was born July 9, 1938 in LaSalle to Herbert and Margaret (Pflibsen) Schmitt, he was raised in Leonore. He graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul Grade School and attended Marquette High School in Ottawa. He married Carolyn Hiltabrand on June 20, 1959 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Richland Township near Leonore. They were married for 60 years.
Norman began farming with his father and later partnered with his brother, Jim for over thirty years. He retired in 2009 after 45 years farming acreage located in the Leonore, Tonica, Lostant and Deer Park township areas. He was a member of the Leonore Volunteer Fire Department, lifetime member of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, President of Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery Board for 30 years and Deer Park Township Trustee for 25 years.
One of his greatest pleasures was having breakfast with his friends at the Village Inn and other spots in the local area. He enjoyed playing poker with his neighbors and friends. He liked to travel with his family in their RV to many parts of the country.
His greatest joys were his children and grandchildren and attending their various sports and school activities. After retirement in 2009 he and his wife enjoyed spending the winter months along the Gulf coast in south Texas.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn, three children; Eileen (Kevin) Knecht of rural Tonica, Steven (Nancy Bowers) Schmitt of Westmont, IL and Jeanine Schmitt of Oglesby; three grandchildren, Kathryn Schmitt of Chicago, Kellyn Schmitt of Chicago and Michael Schmitt of Chicago; a brother Jim (Nancy Carroll) Schmitt of Peru; a sister Anita (George M.) Lukach of Streator and two sisters-in-laws, Donna (Arnold) Calkins of Streator and Ruth (Richard) Baldin of Oglesby.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
