Norbert H. Smith, age 85, of Dubuque, passed away at 5:58 p.m., on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at MercyOne Dubuque surrounded by his loving family. 

To honor Norb’s life, family and friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 5131 Sherrill Road, Sherrill, IA.  There will also be visitation from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., before Mass at the church.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, with Rev. Tyler C. Raymond officiating.  Burial will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery.  Behr Funeral Home is assisting Norb’s family.

Norb was born on May 11, 1938, in Dubuque County, Iowa, son of William and Mary (Knockel) Smith. 

Norb attended Sts. Peter and Paul School in Sherrill.  He was a life long dairy farmer in Sherrill before moving to Sageville in 1998.  He was also a dealer for Archer Oil.  Norb married the love of his life, Betty Schroeder, on June 10, 1961, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Balltown.  They were blessed with a large family and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last year.  Norb was very active in his community.  He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, the Catholic Order of Foresters, Hawkeye Vintage Farm Machinery Association and the Tri-County Sportsman Club.  Norb also served on the Sherrill Fire Department for 34 years.  In his free time, Norb enjoyed spending time outside watching the boys pull tractors, fishing, squirrel and deer hunting, working in his big garden, cutting wood and a warm fire.  He also liked watching Gunsmoke, Westerns and playing Euchre with family and friends.  Norb was an excellent role model for his family, always putting others before himself.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish Norb’s memory include: his wife, Betty Smith, Sageville, IA; 8 children, Kevin (Wendy) Smith, Sherrill, IA, Marvin (Kim) Smith, Sherrill, IA, Sheila (Ken) Maro, LaMotte, IA, Patrick (Tina) Smith, Sherrill, IA, Allan (Janet) Smith, Sherrill, IA, Bill (Mindy) Smith, Sherrill, IA, Tom (Rhonda) Smith, Sherrill, IA and Andrew (Abby) Smith, Sherrill, IA; 31 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; his sister, Neoma Meyer, Dubuque, IA; a brother-in-law, David (Diane) Schroeder, Dyersville, IA; and a sister-in-law, Betty Schroeder, Dubuque, IA.

Norb was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Bill Smith and Clarence (Mae) Smith; a brother-in-law, Emmett Meyer; and his in-laws, Yvonne (Gerald) Nauman and Bob Schroeder.

Norb’s family would like to thank the volunteers from the Sherrill Fire Department for their help and support.

The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Norb’s memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Norb Smith Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com