Norman Lee Luebbe, 92, of Seneca, died on his wife’s birthday, Friday, April 20, 2018 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Norman Lee, was born on April 23, 1925, in Horton to John W. and Nellie Winterschiedt Luebbe. Norman attended school in Horton before moving to Seneca in 1937, because of his father’s health. Norman attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School and graduated from High School in 1943. That summer Norman’s father took him to the military station and enlisted him in the United States Navy. He served two years sailing all around the world on the S.S. Crater Lake transporting oil.

On November 6, 1945 he married Rosemary Wempe at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Following his discharge from the Navy, the couple settled in Seneca. After they were married and he returned from the service, Norman was paid to pitch baseball on Sundays for different town ball team. His parents bought the Eli Hardware store at that time and Norman helped hi parents operate the business.

He purchased the business from his parents in 1960 and continued to run it until he sold the building to his daughter, Jolene in 1993.

Norman and Rosemary were able to celebrate their 50^th, 60^th and their 70 wedding anniversaries. Norman was so talented and was able to fix anything that needed fixing. He built his own home, doing the carpentry, plumbing and the wiring all himself.

He loved to hunt squirrel’s and racoons and make wood crafts for his kids and grandkids. He had an ornery “fun” sense of humor. He will be missed by everyone that knew him, especially his family. Norman was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, St. Joseph Society and the Earl W. Taylor Post 21 in Seneca.

He was preceded in death by his wife Rosemary on March 22, 2016, his son, Joseph Lee Luebbe on July 15, 1951; son-in-law, Terry Grauer; his parents, John on August 16, 1950 and Nellie on September 23,1992; and his sisters, Mary Alice O’Brian and Delores Saunders.

He is survived by his five children, Jerry (Margaret) Luebbe of Centralia, Carol (Jim) Kohake of Seneca, Jolene (Roger) Holthaus of St. Benedict, Randy (Shelly) Luebbe of Topeka and Lori (Gary) Huerter of Seneca; his brother, Jack Luebbe of Hendersonville, North Carolina; 16 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and five step great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM at the Lauer Funeral Home on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Seneca on his birthday, at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 23, 2018.

The burial will be at a later date.

Memorials are to be designated for Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic school and sent in care of the family.