Submitted by: Dan Rich

Norbert W. Gassensmith

June 4, 1905 – Jan. 2, 1969

South Bend Tribune 1/3/1969

Norbert W. Gassensmith, 63, of 714 W. Angela Blvd., died at noon Thursday in Memorial Hospital. He was the manager of U-Drive It Corp. until 1948; he then became manager of local Hertz Auto Rental until his retirement in 1966. He was born June 4, 1905 in Odell, Ill.

He married Edna McCarthy June 12, 1930 in South Bend. Surviving besides his widow are two sons, Norbert J. (Skip), progran director of WSBT and WSBT-TV, the Tribune’s radio and television stations, and Edward P. both of South Bend; two daughters Mary Jo of Cincinnati and Mrs. Cecila Florkowski of Mishawaka; seven grandchildren; four brothers, Cyril and Raymond both of South Bend, Edward of Joliet, Ill. and Clarence of Odell; four sisters, Mrs. James Murphy of Jerseyville, Ill., Mrs. Arthur Pelachoud of Joliet, and Sister Louis Bertrand and Sister Mary Frederic, both of Springfield, Ill.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Hickey Funeral Home where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday by the K. of C. Santa Maria Council 553. Services will be at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Donald F. Guertin, CSC, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.