Norbert R. Dishaw

He was born Nov. 8, 1925, in Crystal Falls, the son of Henry and Margaret (Meyers) Dishaw. Norb graduated from Crystal Falls High School with the Class of 1943, and was class president.

Following graduation, he spent two years in the U.S. Army, serving with the 87th Infantry Division and participating in three World War II campaigns: the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.

He was a member of the 87th Infantry Division Association, the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and a life member of the Tufts-Rondon Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post in Crystal Falls.

Following his discharge from the Army in 1946, he spent five years in Lower Michigan at the Albion Evening Recorder, beginning a 49 year career in the printing and newspaper business. In 1951, he returned to Crystal Falls, accepting employment at the Diamond Drill. Norb stayed with the venerable Crystal Falls newspaper on a full and part-time basis until 1995, serving in various capacities in the mechanical and editorial departments.

Norb was also a lifelong member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls. At Guardian Angels he served as a lector, usher, extraordinary minister, sacristan and adult altar server. He was a member of the G.A. Council of Knights of Columbus and a volunteer at the local St. Vincent de Paul store. He was a trustee on the Crystal Falls Township Board from 1972 to 2004 and was a charter member of the Crystal Falls Fire Authority Board, serving as secretary for 12 years. He had also served as a member of the Township Zoning Board of Appeals and the Crystal Falls Community Library Board.

Norb was a member of the Crystal Falls Men’s Golf Club since 1952, where he served a term as president and for many years as club treasurer and chairman of the bar committee. He was a seven-time Men’s Club Champion and in 2020 hole number three at the Crystal View Golf Course was named “The Norb Dishaw Hole” in his honor. In addition to golf, he was an avid softball player, bowler and rabbit hunter.

On Sept. 6, 1952, he married Mary Lillian Bradish, who preceded him in death in 1996.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Lawrence and Raymond, and a sister, Marjorie Dishaw Wend.

He is survived by five daughters, Peggy (Manuel) Padilla of Crystal Falls, Pam (Doug) Chichester of Williamsburg, Mich., Christine Dishaw of Babbitt, Minn., Linda (Mark) Valesano of Crystal Falls, and Fran Dishaw (Dale) Peters of Crystal Falls; 13 grandchildren, Christina, Laura, Alan, Lindsey, Mark, Nate, Elijah, Gabrielle, Marci, Toni, Christian, Natalie, and Ray; 22 great-grandchildren, Norberto, Daniel, Edwin, Ryan, Maggie, Benjamin, Pierce, Lydia, Drew, Rae, Evie, Lilly, Naomi, Gemma, Romell, Oliver, Hudson, Harper, Kaidan, Quinn, Bryce and Lucius; and one step great-grandchild, Jordan.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Nash Funeral Home in Crystal Falls.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls.

Burial will be in the spring at Evergreen Cemetery in Crystal Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial donations to the Guardian Angels Catholic Church or the Iron County Cancer Unit.

Condolences to the family of Norbert “Norb” Dishaw may be expressed online at www.nashfuneralhome.net.

The family has entrusted the Nash Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Crystal Falls with the arrangements.