Norbert Lyle Poch, 79, of Fond du Lac, died on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at Hospice Home of Hope with his family by his side.

He was born on June 28, 1939, to Herman and Adeline (Immel) Poch in the farmhouse he lived in his next 59 years in Mt. Calvary.  He was baptized on July 23, 1939 and later confirmed on April 11, 1954 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where he spent his entire Christian life.  He served on the Church Council.  On July 1, 1960, he married Helen Ann Bechler and they were blessed with three children.

Besides loving his Savior, he loved baseball and played for Forest AC for a short time.  He formed an over 30 team that played in Fond du Lac for a number of years.  He also played church softball and was inducted into the WELS softball Hall of Fame in 2012.  Upon his wife’s encouragement he went to play Fantasy baseball in Arizona for 8 years in the spring.  He especially remembers getting a hit off Rollie Fingers.  One year his two sons accompanied him and he was catcher and one son the pitcher.  He was fortunate enough to see the Brewers in Game 5 of the 1982 World Series and Game 2 of the 2011 National League Division Series.  He was especially proud to almost bowl a 300 game, one strike short for 279 and 718 series.

After marriage he and his wife took over his dad’s farm and farmed for forty years.  Upon selling the farm he lived on the golf course where he even cut grass for one summer.  They then moved into Fond du Lac and he drove part-time delivery truck for Fondy Express for eight years before retiring.

They took many trips with Tom’s Christian Tours to many places including Iceland.  He golfed at Hickory Hills for a number of years and played cards at the Senior Center.  He was a loving husband, father and grandpa and will be sadly missed.  He loved attending his grandchildren’s activities when able.

Those he leaved behind include his wife, Helen of 58 years, his daughter, Lisa (Larry) Stephens of Portland, OR, his sons Lyle (Shirley) of Beaver Dam and Robert of Fond du Lac; five grandchildren: Emily and Maya Stephens, Katie Poch (special friend Austin Kinman) and Logan and Kyle Poch; his sisters, Ardell (Marvin) Priest of Lomira, Karen (Norman) Raeder of Plymouth, Ruth (Merlin) Limberg of Plymouth, and his brother, Dale (Pat) Poch of West Bend and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Poch of Mt. Calvary and brother-in-law John Bechler (Betsy Kuppermann) of Hernando, FL and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father in law, a sister and brother in law Alice and Leonard Rosenbaum and a brother Lawrence Poch.

A special thank you to St. Francis Home staff for all the care they gave him and to Hospice Home of Hope who made his final days more comfortable, and to Pastor Barenz for his many visits and comforting prayers.

In lieu of flowers donations appreciated to St. Paul’s Church, Winnebago Lutheran Academy or Hospice Home of Hope. 

VISITATION: Friends may call on Saturday, July 14, 2018, from 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Town of Forest, W2090 Highway 23, Mt. Calvary. 

FUNERAL: Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, with Rev. Mark Barenz officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Lyons Cemetery, Town of Forest. 

Kurki-Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.kurkimachfuneralchapel.com.     920-921-4420