Norbert A. Geffre

Click here to view Norbert's Liturgical Wake Service.

Click here to view Norbert's Mass of Christian Burial.

Norbert A. Geffre, age 95, of Leola, SD, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019, at Aberdeen Health and Rehab in Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Leola, with Father Thomas R. Clement as celebrant.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Saturday.

Family and friends may sign Norbert’s online guestbook and also view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Norbert A. Geffre was born April 18, 1923, at the family homestead in Leola, SD to John and Catherine (Reinbold) Geffre.  He attended country school until he graduated from eighth grade.  After completing eighth grade, he stayed home to work on the family farm. 

In his young adult life, he ventured to Washington State, where he worked in the Kaiser Shipyards building small aircraft carriers, worked at the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD, and owned and operated the Apex Bowling Alley.  Even though he ventured away from Leola during the fall and winter months, he was always drawn back to the farm in the spring to help with planting crops.

On October 15, 1956, he was united in marriage to Joanne K. Kornmann of Lead, SD.  When they began their family, they moved back to Leola and the couple established permanent roots on the farm and raised eight children.  In addition to planting crops, Norbert had a dairy operation and raised livestock on the farm.  He planted all of the trees in the tree belt around the farm.  As he cut back on farming, he nurtured his love of the land through gardening.

Norbert was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.  During his lifetime, he enjoyed playing cards (especially pinochle), hunting, and watching old Westerns, sports, and the Weather Channel on TV.

His survivors include his wife of 62 years, Joanne Geffre of Leola, SD; seven children:  Kathy Geffre and Susie (Bob) Faehn, both of Watertown, SD, John Geffre, Tom Geffre and Patty Geffre, all of Denver, CO, Lieutenant Colonel Larry (Rebecca) Geffre of Norman, OK, and Jerry (Vicki) Geffre of Leola, SD; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three brothers; and one sister.

Norbert is preceded in death by one son, Mark A. Geffre; his parents; seven brothers; and four sisters.

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