Funeral services for Norbert Leon “Nubb’s” Wilder will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, November 3, 2018 at St Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea, MN. Father Kurt Farrell will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 5 until 8 PM with a Rosery service at 8:00 PM.
Interment will be in St Theodore Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Area Veterans Groups. Norbert died Friday, October 26, 2018 at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.
He was 77 years of age. Nubb’s was born at home in rural Wells, MN, on April 1, 1941. He was the son of LeRoy and Helen (Dombrowski) Wilder of Wells, MN; He attended 1st thru 8th grades at St Casimir Catholic School in Wells, MN.
He graduated from Wells Easton High School in 1960. He was proud to serve his country and entered the Army immediately after High School and did his tour June 1960 – June 1962 in Germany during the building of the wall in the Berlin Crisis. He married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Warmka on June 24, 1964.
They were blessed to have 4 fine sons; Philip, Paul, Patrick and Jeff. He worked for Richter Hardware in Conger for six years fixing wells. Then he started working for Freeborn County Highway Department in April of 1968.
He loved working outdoors. He took pride in his work and always did the job right the first time. He was the backhoe operator for the first 25 years; they used to say he could pick up a dime with the backhoe.
The last 15 years before he retired he mowed road ditches in the summer and drove the Oshkosh plowing snow in the winter. He was always proud to say that he worked for Freeborn County for 40 years. Nubb’s was a member of St Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 404, Moose, Legion of the Moose and Eagles.
He was active working with kids all of his life. He was Cub Master and Scout Master for St Theodore’s Troop 105 Boys Scouts of America for 20 years, and a foster parent for over 101 kids over 35-year period in Freeborn County. After retirement he continued his hobbies of fishing on Leech Lake, playing Bingo, and making stained glass lamp shades for gifts.
With a great love for farming he was blessed to be able to return to the farm for spring planting and fall harvest. Year around he was a sports fanatic! He loved and watched every kind of high school sports that Albert Lea School District had.
The sport that was dearest to his heart was wrestling. He got hooked on wrestling in the 80’s when his oldest son, Phil “Bruno” started wrestling. He was a faithful fan from then on.
A highlight of each summer was always Cousin’s Camp where he was Waterfront Director for his grandkids and grand nieces and nephews who came to Camp wilder. He is survived by his sons Philip Wilder (Saralyn) of Austin, MN, and their children Zach (Mallory), Katie, Drew (Cassy), Natalie, Ellie (Tony), Mitchell, and Eric. Paul and Ellie Wilder of Faribault, MN, and their children Louis, Sarah, Teresa, Emily and Monica.
Patrick Wilder of White Bear Lake, MN, and his children Jake and Tess. Jeff Wilder and his children, Anthony, Noah, Carlito and Mia. There are 7 great grandchildren, one brother Marvin Wilder of albert Lea, MN, two sisters Ann (Gene) Utzka of Albert Lea, MN, and Jeanette (Dennis) Wilder of Kiester, MN.
He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; James Warmka, Margaret Barrett, Rosemary Cavidini, Tom (Cheryl) Warmka, Jeri Warmka, John (Carol) Warmka, Dan (Deb) Warmka, and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Norbert was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife Kathleen (Warmka) and his parents LeRoy and Helen Wilder, brother David, sister Margaret (David) Wanous, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Mary Ann Warmka, Marion Warmka Mary Ann Wilder, Tom Barrett, Rita (John) Warmka Haley, Don Cavidini, Ken (Sherry) Warmka, Ed Warmka and Helen (Syl) Botzet and one grandnephew Jacob Botzet. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to St Jude’s hospital.
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