Tierney, Norbert Eugene 1926 - 2013

TIERNEY, GODDARD, MITCHELL, KENT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/24/2013 at 16:50:53

U.S. Veteran
Norbert Tierney, age 87, of Decorah, IA, died Monday, June 10, 2013 at Wellington Place in Decorah.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 13, 2013 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phillip Gibbs and Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in Decorah, with full military honors.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M. Thursday at St. Benedict Church.

Norbert (Norb) Eugene Tierney was born January 27, 1926 in Little Turkey Iowa. Norb was the son of Phil and Hazel (Goddard) Tierney. He attended Decorah High School leaving school to join the United States Marine Corps at age 17. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific and participated in the battle for Okinawa as a rifleman with the 4th Marine Division from 1943 to 1946.

In 1944, Norb was waiting to be shipped overseas during the war when on the steps of the telephone office in Pomona California the young Marine met his future wife, Elizabeth Jo Mitchell. As Jo tells the story, Norb was in charge of recruiting girls for the Marine Corp dance that evening. After introducing himself to Jo, he dropped her and the other girls off at the dance to go and pick up more girls at the telephone office. However, Norb was leaving the dance and noticed some other Marines. The Marines seeing an opening asked Jo to dance. Norb quickly returned and chased the other men off and whisked Jo away to Decorah Iowa where they were married on October 1, 1946. Norb and Jo had two beloved sons, Larry and David.

Norb worked for Ben Bear Clothing Store in Decorah before going to work for Leo Tekippe at the local Coast to Coast hardware store. A few years later Norb went in to partnership with Lou Knobbe who owned the local True Value Hardware. In 1965, Norb & Jo purchased the store from Lou Knobble and changed the name to Norb’s True Value. Norb operated the hardware store for over 25 years before selling the store and retiring in 1990. Norb also worked for the Decorah Community School District employed as school bus for over 54 years retiring in 2002. Norb enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveled to Canada with a fishing group annually for the past 40 years. Norb was very proud of his two grandchildren Garett (13) & Kylie (12) Tierney. He was always quick to tell lots of stories about his grandkids. Norb was also very active in the VFW chapter as well as a member of the Oneota Golf & Country Club for many years. Norb was active in the Boy Scouts of America for years receiving the Silver Beaver Award for scouting in 1973.

Norb is survived by his two sons, Larry Tierney of Naples, FL and David (Darci) Tierney of Missouri Valley, IA; two grandchildren, Garett & Kylie; Niece, Wanda Kay (Robert) Kent; Nephew, Ronny (Joann) Tierney.

Norb was preceded in death his parents, Phil and Hazel Tierney; brother Lyle (Stella) Tierney; and wife Jo Tierney on January 17, 2013.

He leaves behind numerous friends and extended family, and will be missed by all.

Semper FI

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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