Norbert Anthony Heban Jr., of Rossford, Ohio, made a peaceful journey to heaven on December 22, 2021, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. He was born on May 2, 1933, in Rossford, to Mary Louise (Jursa) and Norbert A. Heban Sr. He married the love of his life, Judith Anne Kwapich, and spent 63 years holding hands and sharing life with his “Doll.”
Norb was a lifelong devout Catholic and faithful servant of God. He was a member of St. Mary Magdalene and All Saints Catholic Church. He was an altar boy, the first lector at St. Mary’s, ushered for 35 years and served on Parish Council and many other committees for the church. Norb was a member of the Keep Watch Ministry and prayed faithfully every Friday for the students and staff of All Saints, Penta and Owens. He was a prayer warrior and prayed daily for his family and those needing God’s divine intervention.
Norb proudly served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division from 1953 to 1955. He retired from Dana Corporation in 1999, after having worked 37 years, first as a draftsman and later as a patent analyst. During his career, Norb attended Owens Technical College and Dana University, and was active in Toastmasters International.
Norb was athletic and played handball, racquetball, senior softball, senior volleyball, bowled and went to the Softball Senior Olympics. He had a tryout with the Chicago White Sox in 1952, at the age of 19, but was drafted into the U.S. Army the same year. He was an avid Cleveland Indians fan and attended the Indians’ spring training Baseball Heaven camp. Norb coached girls softball, boys little league and men’s softball. He was in several plays at the Village Players Theatre in the early 1980s. He had a love for nature and enjoyed camping, woodworking and dancing. He was a gentle and caring man who always had a kind word and a hug for those around him. Norb was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Norb will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Judith Heban; children, Kevin (Ann) Heban, Norb (Pattie) Heban III, Sharon (Matt) Giles, Terry (Charlie) McKnight, Kelly (Andrew) Garza; grandchildren, Kenny, Kirsi, Alex, Christie, Courtney, Greg, Jenni, Matthew, Brian, Joey, Sarah, Elijah, Alyssa; 11 greatgrandchildren; siblings, Richard Heban, Stephen (Ann) Heban, Nancy (Marcel) Poupard, Marie (Ron) Grove; siblings-in-law, Dale (Kathy) Kwapich, Pam Crabtree, Roger (Debbie) Kwapich, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Walter and Emelia Kwapich; sisterin-law, Doris Heban, and brother-in-law, Fred Crabtree.
The family would like to thank the staff at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo, for their gentle and loving care of Norb in his final days, and Father Anthony Recker, for his spiritual guidance and personal visits.
Friends will be received at Sujkowski Walker Funeral Home, Rossford (419-666-1566) on Sunday, January 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. There will be a Funeral Mass at All Saints Catholic Church, Rossford, on Monday, January 3, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Norbert’s name may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online condolences may be left at walkerfuneralhomes.com.