Norbert J. “Norb” Anderson, 78, of Como Park, died Jan. 3, after a short illness. Norb graduated from Cretin High School and the University of Minnesota.
Norb was proud to have celebrated 35 years of sobriety and was active in many Alcoholics Anonymous groups. He was a consummate salesman, entrepreneur and idea man. He was a gifted golfer and shared his love of the game with all.
He enjoyed driving his bull and cow in Minnesota State Fair parades. “Nubs” was a true character and he will be missed.
He is survived by five children, Meegan, Melissa, Michael, Jennifer and Mary Beth; two sisters, Loretta and Marilynn Anderson; and many friends, fellow sports fans, and an extensive AA family.
He was also involved in the Catholic community and enjoyed retreats at the Lake Elmo retreat house, Demontreville, for 35 years. Memorial Mass and celebratory reception were held on Jan. 16 at St. Peter Claver Church in St. Paul.
I had the good fortune of meeting Norb in the course of my work at the St. Paul City Attorney’s office. Apparently, his big bull had remained parked on the street too long and I was tasked with seeing that it was moved to ‘greener pastures’. We only met twice in 2010, but his joviality made a lasting impression on me. He was a skilled story teller. So much so that we sat and chatted for 45 minutes after court each time. He told me how he got his start in the fiberglass animal business by hauling a giant horse to a trade show in California. From that first show, he and his partner grew the business into a nationwide enterprise. His described his creations as, “So realistic that if you looked at their eyes, you’d swear they would blink.” He told me how he once managed to sell a giant fiberglass mouse named “Jimbo” right off the back of his trailer to a roadside cheese shop in Wisconsin. He smiled when he told me about bringing his bull to the State Fair and seeing the joy on people’s faces. The other topic that he wanted to talk about besides the business was his children. He told me of driving up from Iowa with his very pregnant wife who refused to stop to have the baby until they arrived in St. Paul. He told me how proud he was of all of his children. I can’t remember the specifics, but he told me where each of them was born, where they went to school, and what they were doing now. My short meetings with him made a lasting impression on me and provided me with an tangible example of love of work and family. I have no doubt my experience with Norb were not out of the ordinary for him. I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that you can find comfort in knowing the positive impact he had on the people he came into contact with, no matter how brief the meeting.