Norbert F. "Knobby" Meysenburg, Former Alumni Director

obit_knobby_meysenburg_600x800Norbert F. "Knobby Meysenburg, former counselor, Head Counselor, Camp Okoboji Director and Alumni Director passed away on January 6, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Honorary Lifetime Member.

Norbert F. “Knobby” Meysenburg | May 3, 1936 – Jan 6, 2018
 
Preceded in death by parents, Paul and Eva; brother, John.  Survived by wife, Betty; stepchildren: Stephen Frantz, Diane Ussery (Scott), and Mark Frantz (Staci); eight grandchildren; brother, Gerald (Rita).

The following is a biography of Knobby from his funeral program.
 
Knobby was born in Bellwood, NE as the third son of Eva and Paul Meysenburg. He was the baby brother to Jerry and Jack spending his childhood raising pet pigs and doing chores on the family farm outside Bellwood. Knobby graduated from Marietta School in 1954 and continued to follow his agrarian roots for a short time; however his years of service to the land were about to change.
 
A new calling for service to youth came to Knobby when he found his way to Boys Town in the latter half of 1954. He was hired as a counselor in Cottage 27. Knobby developed a reputation that would follow him throughout his entire career and life. A man who led by example and truly believed that second chances and helping people learn from 1heir own mistakes were some of the best ways to shape a young man or woman. His service to the youth of Boys Town was briefly interrupted when he was called to serve his country in the U.S. Army.
 
After his discharge from the Army, Knobby returned to the Boys Town campus and continued his work as a head counselor, coach, mentor, and father figure to generations of youth. In 1976, Knobby's service turned a couple hundred miles north to Lake Okoboji when he took on the new role of camp director at Boys Town Camp. Here he spent the next sixteen years of his career making sure the youth of Boys Town had ample opportunity to experience new challenges in and on the water. There are hundreds if not thousands of people that learned to water ski due to the patience and sage advice of Knobby. Rumor always had it that he would not let you back in the boat until you had gotten up at least once. After 16 years working at the camp, Knobby transitioned to his final job as the director of the Boys Town Alumni Association until his retirement in 2000.
 
One other Iife that was changed through trips to Okoboji was that of a single mother of three children (Steve, Diane, and Mark) named Betty Frantz. Working as a family teacher for Boys Town, she brought her family up to the camp and soon struck up conversations with what appeared to be a committed bachelor of 40 plus years. A good friendship blossomed and Betty's trips up to Okoboji in the summer increased in frequency. Eventually the relationship evolved into something greater. That "something greater" took a few years to become permanent when Knobby and Betty married on November 8, 1985. One amazing fact, other than Knobby finally giving up his Bachelor status: not only did he become a husband and step-father, but four days later a grandfather, with the birth of the first grandchild. His next thirty plus years were spent at countless ball games, recitals, birthdays, weddings and just enjoying his eight grandchildren: Megan (Ross) Jones, Justin Ussery, Alex (Brittany) Frantz, Tyler Ussery, Ben (Blair) Frantz, Mitchell (Sara) Frantz, Lindsey Ussery, and Nathan Frantz. At the time of his death, Knobby was waiting to welcome his fourth generation with the pending birth of his first great-grandson due January 10th and great-granddaughter due February 5th.
 
It may seem ironic to categorize the life of a man who waited 50 years to marry as the quintessential father figure. However, all those whose lives were touched by Knobby understand his gifts were best shared among a larger group while also making each individual feel better for having known him.
The family received friends on Tuesday, Jan. 9th from 5pm to 7pm at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 5801 Oak Hills Drive, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL was on Wednesday, Jan. 10th at 11am, St. John Vianney Church.  Interment, Omaha National Cemetery.  Memorials directed by the family.