NORMAN LEO HERBEL, son of Carl and Elsie (Kaufman) Herbel, was born December 7, 1936 at Lucas, Kansas. He departed this life on Sunday morning August 10, 2008 at the Woodward Regional Hospital at Woodward, Oklahoma. He was 71 years of age.
Norman was raised and educated at Lucas, Kansas and graduated from Lucas High School with the class of 1955. He furthered his education at the University of Kansas in Lawrence where he graduated with a Bachelor degree in Physical Education.
He was united in marriage to Carolyn Ann Heinze on June 6, 1956 at Lucas, Kansas. They had two children: Carmen and Kent. Norman taught physical education classes in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania school system. Norman and Carolyn became dog enthusiasts, especially with the Lhasa Apso breed and German Shepherd Dogs. Norman and Carolyn spent their lifetime enjoying the German Shepherd Dogs. Later in life, “Charm”, a special German Shepherd, BIS, BISS, A.O.E., Am Sel. Ex. Can Sel. Am/Can Ch. Kaleef’s Silver Charm of Tabu, HT, ROM, was the light of his life. Together he and Carolyn wrote three books on the Lhasa Apso dogs. He traveled all over showing and judging all breeds of dogs and was known as a multi-group judge. He was a world renowned dog judge. Before retiring to Oklahoma, Norman and his brother Clayton bred L1 registered Hereford Cattle. The breeding program they developed has influenced Hereford Cattle all over the United States. Recently
he was instrumental in helping Mark and Lacey Herbel Syzemore and Kent and Lori Herbel begin an exciting brood mare band of registered Quarter Horses. He was also a lover of the land and in 1987, they purchased a ranch in southern Dewey County in the Putnam community where they moved and have lived since. He was a devout Christian man who loved his family dearly.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Herbel of the home; one daughter: Carmen Spears and husband Max of Putnam; one son: Kent Herbel and wife Lori of Putnam; two granddaughters: Lacey Herbel-Syzemore and husband Mark of Putnam and Kelli Herbel and her fiancé Waylon Bausch both of Hoyt, Kansas; one great grandson: Warren Syzemore; dear friends: Nancy and Jim Plunkett of Greencastle, PA; his mother-in-law: Anna Marie Heinze of Putnam; one sister: Barbara Reeves of Russell, KS and one brother: Clayton Herbel and wife Kathi of Lucas, KS. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandsons: Matthew Spears and Clay Herbel.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials and cards be sent to Carolyn Herbel at Rt. 1, Box 50-Putnam, OK 73659. Service arrangements are under the direction of the Redinger Funeral Home in Seiling.
Norm judged the 2007 ACDCA National Specialty Conformation