Norbert "Tuck" Joseph Lepschat Obituary (1930

Norbert "Tuck" Joseph Lepschat, 80, a resident of the Gales Creek community died Monday evening, January 11, 2011 at OHSU hospital in Portland from complications of treatment for leukemia. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at St Anthony Catholic Church; 1660 Elm Street in Forest Grove. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 AM following the Rosary. Family and friends are invited to attend a reception following the Mass to be held at the St Anthony Parish Hall. Rite of Christian Burial and Military honors will take place at 1:00 PM on January 18, 2011 at the Mountain View Cemetery; 499 Watercrest Drive in Forest Grove. Tuck was born on July 6, 1930 in Hillsboro, OR. He was one of seven children born to William Carl and Josephine (Bernards) Lepschat. He grew up on the family farm, attending Visitation School in Verboort and later Central High School in Portland, graduating with the Class of 1947. Tuck received a football scholarship to Santa Clara University, but he missed his family and Oregon and returned home after one term to work as a logger. He joined the National Guard in 1947, and served there until he was drafted into the US Army in 1950. He served his country during the Korean War, stationed primarily in Texas. Tuck was honorably discharged in 1953 as a Private, first class. Tuck met the love of his live, Norma McMahon, at a dance on a blind date. Despite Tuck stomping all over Norma's feet, they were married within a year on January 15, 1955 in Hillsboro, OR. Following their marriage they lived in Forest Grove and Verboort. In 1957 they bought their property in Gales Creek where they have made their home since. He worked in the woods for several years and then became a carpenter. He began in home construction and later moved to the commercial industry where he helped build numerous schools and churches in the area. Known for his meticulous work and craftsmanship, Tuck specialized in finish carpentry. Tuck was never a man to sit idle, so he worked until he was 67. Upon "retirement" he helped his family and friends with their construction projects, and spent time on his two favorite hobbies, cutting firewood and logging his property. He was active in sports in his youth playing football and baseball in Verboort. Tuck enjoyed telling stories to his family and friends. He had a wry sense of humor, was an active member of his church, loved elk hunting, salmon fishing, opera and flowers. Each winter, he would tell Norma with delight when her first rhododendron of the season began to bloom. Blessed with an inquisitive mind, he would read everything that came into the house. Physically gifted, he took great satisfaction in a hard day's work. One of the greatest compliments he could pay was to describe someone as a "hard worker". His parents and four siblings, Ethel, William, Robert and Walter preceded him in death. Survivors include his loving wife Norma of the family home, nine children and their spouses; Christine and Stefan Bump of Mountaindale, OR, Barbara Lepschat of Forest Grove, OR, Diane and Bob Woodruff of Banks, OR, Mary Carol Lepschat and her husband; Tim Ramos of Gales Creek, OR, Rosalia "Buzzy" and Eric Snow of Hillsboro, OR, Peter and Susan Lepschat of Verboort, OR, Lois Lepschat of Beaverton, OR, Amy and John Deppa of Portland, OR, Dan Lepschat of Cherry Grove, OR, two siblings; Ruth Forsythe of Portland, OR, Fran Koehnke of Cornelius, OR and sixteen grandchildren. The family suggests donations in Tuck's name to OHSU Foundation, 1121 S.W. Salmon St, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205-2021, for a cure for Leukemia