Norbert Kochmann, age 89, of Mahnomen, MN, died Friday, March 07, 2008, at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home, Mahnomen.
Norbert Bernard was born June 18, 1918, to Julius and Veronica (Athmann) Kochmann at home in Beaulieu Township, Mahnomen County. He attended country school and began helping on the family farm at a early age. As a young man, Norbert worked for John Mueller at the Standard Station. Around 1945, Norbert and brother, Alphonse, purchased the station and Kochmann Standard was named.
On July 6, 1948, Norbert was united in marriage to Margaret Buschette at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen. The couple made their home in Mahnomen where they raised their family. In the early 1950's, Norbert became the sole owner of Kochmann Standard which he owned and operated until he sold it to his son, David, in 1984. Even though retired, Norbert continued to help out at the station from time to time. Over the years, he liked visiting with and taking care of his loyal customers.
Norbert was a family oriented man who enjoyed getting everybody together. Pastimes included ice fishing in the winter and tending to his yard and flower beds in the summer. He took a lot of pride in his well kept flowers and manicured lawn. Norbert also enjoyed music. Growing up, he and his siblings had a band called Kochmann Concertina Orchestra. Later in life, Norbert dusted off his banjo and would often play at area nursing homes with Marvin, Gilbert and Muriel, even as recent as last fall. In addition to playing the banjo, he also took up golfing, a sport he enjoyed with his good friend, the late Al Klinkhammer.
Norbert was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Mahnomen Council #2573.
Surviving Norbert is his wife of 59 years, Margaret, of Mahnomen; two sons, David (Debra) Kochmann and James (Diane) Kochmann, both of Mahnomen; five daughters: Linda (Terry) Wilson of Columbia, TN, Carol (Stephen) Archer of Bloomington, MN, Diane (Pete) Luhman of Moorhead, MN, Marlys (Bobby) Hawthorne of Garland, TX, and Kathryn (Matt) Kurtz of Delano, MN; 17 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jerome (Violet) Kochmann of Mahnomen, and Clarence (Rachel) of Detroit Lakes, MN; three sisters: Dolores Ahmann of Mahnomen, Luella (Albert) Ahmann of East Grand Forks, MN, and Rose Marie (Ken) Price of Stephen, MN; and sister-in-law, Josephine Kochmann of Fargo, ND. Norbert was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Alphonse Kochmann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to the American Heart Association.