Norman D. Hubberth

Norman D. Hubberth December 23, 1955 - June 30, 2024. Age 68. Norman and his brother Neil are twins and were born December 23, 1955, at a U.S. Army Hospital in Nurnberg, Germany. Their Father Clayton "Nick" was in the Army and stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany during the Korean War. The family proceeded to stay and live there for approximately 3 years. Needless to say, there was a lot of snow there in the winter months so that may be how Norm's love of winter started. The family then moved to various states with the military before settling down in Warren, Michigan. Norm graduated in 1974 from East Detroit High School where he studied electronics and enjoyed band (percussion). In his high school years, he worked alongside his Dad, who did medical electronic repair. This lead to his pursuing an electronics degree at R.E.T.S. (Radio Electronics Television School) then on to Sienna Heights University for his Bachelor of Bio-Medical Electronics degree. Norm did field service for medical electronic companies throughout the years with a couple of them requiring major traveling. Norm and his brother Neil grew up enjoying sports together. Along with baseball, hockey, and biking they enjoyed running together too. They have spent time traveling the midwest states. They have a close twin bond where over the years they have sent the same cards to their parents and have even picked up the phone to call each other at the same time. When Neil moved west for his job, that was Norm's inspiration to start traveling to visit Neil and see the country. Their major thing was biking together in California. Norm met Gloria in 1976 and they married on Sweetest Day, October 20, 1984. They lived in Mt. Clemens for a bit. Norm took a break from the work traveling and started working at MC Sporting Goods along with his brother-in-law Brian and future sister-in-law Shelly. This sparked his retail interest in snow sports and he learned to ski. They then moved to Northville where he went to work for Bavarian Village, then Sun & Snow Sports in Ann Arbor. Eventually he became a buyer of ski equipment. After a few years, he went back to medical electronics repair with less travel, but his love of snow sports stayed. He has enjoyed helping out at Sun & Snow Sports at their yearly ski swaps. He's made a lot of ski buddies over the years. Norm retired from his last employer, Hologic, in June 2022. He loved trouble shooting the laboratory equipment and working with the lab staff. He has made a lot of good friends through his field service years. Norm had become an avid biker, runner and skier over the years and thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors, but his passion was fishing - fly, crank and surf. He told stories of growing up and fishing with his Uncle Roy in Missouri. Each vacation the fishing gear went with him even on a 20-mile hike in the Sierra Nevada Desolation Wilderness with Neil & Gloria. He wanted to try his luck for golden mountain trout in some small mountain lakes. The fishing rod also got strapped onto Norm & Gloria's tandem bike at various lake and ocean vacations. He even tried surf casting in Nantucket as a hurricane wind was approaching and as he cast out, it just stayed behind him. After a few tries he gave in. Norm loved snow - the more the better! This lead to skiing approximately 58 different locations local and across the country with our ski buddies (Neil, Doug & Lois, Jason, Mark) and being on an adult race league. His biking passion started with his good friend Doug training him for long rides, mountain biking, and races and a team biathlon. He truly loved it. Norm and Gloria bought a tandem bike after renting one first on Mackinac Island and then on other vacations. They have taken it on many trips including Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. They even rode a tandem up the Luther Mountain Pass in Lake Tahoe. Tandem biking is a big part of their summers. Norm & Gloria have valued their roles as Uncle & Aunt for 5 wonderful young people in their lives. Norm always looked forward to being with them, fishing with them, teaching them to ski and showing them his love of the outdoors. Norm and Gloria had 40 wonderful married years of their being together for 48 total years. He was a wonderful husband, best friend, and her forever person. He had an easy-going personality with a way of making you feel warm and welcome. Norm had a very special place in his heart for his twin Neil, especially as he got older. He loved, enjoyed and always felt like family with all his in laws. He truly cared about his family and friends. Norm will truly be missed. Survivors include his wife Gloria (Smilnak), Brother Neil Hubberth, uncle of Joseph Hubberth, Sara Smilnak, Gordon Smilnak, Andrew Smilnak and Victoria Smilnak. Preceded in death by his parents Clayton and Melva (Whitener) Hubberth. Norm was a member of Trout Unlimited. He was Bio-Medical Field Engineer and had a bachelor's degree in Bio Medical Electronics. He loved to fish, ski, run and anything outdoors especially loved winter. Please keep the family in your thoughts in the days weeks and months that follow his Celebration of Life. Visitation Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 2-6 pm with a service at 5 pm at the O'Brien Sullivan Funeral Home 41555 Grand River Ave Novi, MI 48375. 248-348-1800. Memorial Contributions may be directed to National Fish & Wildlife Foundation or Special Olympics.