Norbert W. 'Norby' Wilbert

West Leyden- Norbert W. Wilbert, 97, a long time resident of Fish Creek Road, husband of the late Freda, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Boonville, after a short illness. He was born on in West Leyden, August 20, 1916, a son of William W. and Anna Kirk Wilbert, and grew up at the Wilbert homestead on the Osceola Road near West Leyden. Norbert graduated from West Leyden Central School with the Class of 1934.On July 25, 1942, he was united in marriage with Freda Cihocki, at St. Peter's & Paul's Church, Fish Creek. Thereafter the couple settled on the former Benjamin Nellenback farm on the Fish Creek Road in the Town of Lewis. The Wilbert's operated this farm until 1972, when they sold this, however, continued to operate the Wilbert Christmas Tree Farm. For many years the couple grew, trimmed and sold Christmas Trees, both locally and shipping trees throughout the Eastern United States. At the present time Mr. Wilbert was operating the Christmas tree business with his son Bruce. Mr. Wilbert was a member of St. Mary's church, West Leyden and had served on the Parish Council. He was a charter member and an over 50 year member of the "Terrible 10 Card Playing (Pitch) Club of West Leyden, an honorary member of West Leyden Fire Department and a member of the West Leyden Fish and Game Club. Norbert absolutely loved being an avid outdoorsman and admirer of the Adirondack Mountains, right up until the present time. His passion for his flowers, hummingbirds and apple trees, remained strong throughout the years. He was an expert at raising, pruning, and grafting apple trees; his favorite variety of apples were the Cortland Apples. In April, 2014, Mr. Wilbert returned to the North Country, from his winter home in Okeechobee Florida. For many years he and Freda wintered in Florida, where he greatly enjoyed tending his orange grove. Norbert will be fondly remembered as being a very kind and generous man, who was always ready and very willing to help anyone where ever he was. First in Norbert's life, however, was his love and enjoyment of his family. He was predeceased by his wife, Freda, on April 5, 2000, and by a daughter, Gail Vernold, on November 19, 2003. He is survived by four daughters, Diana (Ralph) Stinebrickner, Berea, KY, Linda (Warner)Palmer, Fayette, NY, Donna (Kim) Ernst, Holland Patent, Joanne Ernst and Neal Knitel Boonville; two sons, Bruce (Kathy) Wilbert, Rome, and Roger (Leona) Wilbert, Syracuse; 18 grand children, 23 great grand children, one sister, Marjorie (Raymond) Edwards, Grant, NY and one brother, Donald (Pat) Wilbert, Tampa, FL. He was predeceased by a sister, Marie Nellenback, in 2001, and by two brothers, Jerome, in 2008 and Howard, in 2000. His Funeral will be Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, and at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary's Church, West Leyden, where Rev. Lawrence Marullo, pastor will Celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, West Leyden. Calling hours are Thursday 5-8 p.m. and Friday 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Nativity Church, Main St. West Leyden, NY 13489.