Norbert Reicks

Norbert J. Reicks age 96 of Lawler died Saturday, November 28, 2015, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Lectors for the service will be Jaclyn Hruska, Kristi Dewes and Elizabeth Reicks. Giftbearers will be Norb's daughters, Mary Rausch, Dianne Hruska and Linda Maher. Interment will be in the church cemetery with military honors by the Lawler American Legion Post #279. Pallbearers are Paul Reicks, Nicholas Hruska, Andrew Reicks, Graig Reicks, Matt Maher and Justin Rausch. Honorary Pallbearers are Aric Reicks, Seth Reicks, Anthony Rausch, Mark Rausch, Jared Maher, Erin Hanrahan, Amanda Armstrong and Meghan Hansen. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home, New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Thursday. Norbert John Reicks was born September 21, 1919, on the Reicks Family Farm near St. Lucas, IA, the son of Victor and Mary (Heying) Reicks. He received his education in St. Lucas. In 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army and served during WWII in North Africa and Europe until the war was over. On April 29, 1947, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, IA, he married Virginia Uhlenhake. To this union seven children were born. Norbert and Virginia farmed northeast of Lawler until 1981 when they moved into the town of Lawler. Norb continued to help on the farm for several years. Throughout the years, Norbert was very involved in the community and surrounding area. He had served on the board of the former State Bank of Lawler, a Lawler Coop Director, the Mt. Carmel Church Board during the construction of the current facility, the Lawler American Legion Post, the REC Board and many other functions in the community. The couple enjoyed trips to Germany to explore their heritage and in his free time he enjoyed watching baseball and spending time with his ever-growing family. Survivors include his wife, Virginia; four sons, William (Karen) Reicks of Lawler, Robert Reicks of Minneapolis, Peter (Lisa) Reicks, Luke (Mary) Reicks, all of Lawler; three daughters, Mary (Stephen) Rausch of Waukesha, WI, Dianne (Richard) Hruska of New Hampton, Linda (Ronald) Maher of Lawler; seventeen grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six brothers, Alex Reicks, Francis (Lucille) Reicks, Ardwin Reicks, all of Lawler, Don Reicks of Cresco, Harry (Barbara) Reicks of St. Lucas, Roy (Carolyn) Reicks of Missouri Valley, IA; two sisters, Elsie Swehla, Marian (Norbert) Retterath, all of Spillville; many nieces and nephews; He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Msgr. Leander Reicks, Neal Reicks, Eugene Reicks, Jerome Reicks, and Joseph Reicks in infancy; one sister, Lucille Kruse.