Norbert Arth

Norbert Julian Arth passed away Tuesday, October 06, 2009 in his home of 56 years in West Lafayette, Indiana. Norb was born to Raymond R. Arth and Edwina Griesbaum on October 2, 1915 in Collinsville, Illinois. He had one sister, Betty who preceded him in death. He graduated from Collinsville High School in 1933 and came to Purdue to attend Pharmacy school. He graduated with a BS in Pharmacy in 1937. He went to work briefly in Fort Wayne as a Pharmacist but returned to his beloved West Lafayette and Purdue in 1939 and bought Huffman Pharmacy in the West Lafayette Village which had closed during the depression. He had a partner, Dan Hansel, who left due to World War II. In 1942, he married his sweetheart from High School, Grace Frieda Mueller and she preceded him in death in 1996. Grace and Norb had four sons, John (wife, Wendy) of Germantown, TN, David (deceased 1994) widow Karen Arth, West Lafayette, Thomas (wife, Mary) of Lafayette and Philip (wife, Carla) of Lafayette. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Norbert built a six store chain of pharmacies in the Greater Lafayette area which was employer to many local residents. The pharmacies were sold in 1995. Norb was very active in community affairs especially in the business and Catholic communities. He was a founding member of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and Central Catholic High School. He was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 1951-1952 and was a fourth degree member. He was the past president of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. He was a founder and three time president of the West Lafayette Business and Professional Association. Other organizations he belonged to include: The Serra Club ( Mr. Serra 2009 award), Central Catholic Athletic Association, Lafayette Catholic Schools Foundation Board, John Purdue Club, Purdue President's Council, Indiana Pharmaceutical Association and the Indiana Retail Council. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 2003 from Governor O'Bannon.
Norb's true loves were his wife, family, West Lafayette and Purdue University. He attended every home Purdue football game from 1933-2004 and made many road trips to Purdue football and basketball games. He was a true lover of the St. Louis Cardinals and was sure they would win the World Series again this year. He was able to remain in his home due to the wonderful care of several dedicated health care workers including Peggy Spitznagle Miller, Wanda Carrico, Sally Price and Fran Sanchez to whom the family is deeply grateful.
Norb will always be remembered for his sense of humor and his love of family and friends. He always spoke highly of and was eternally grateful to his past employees who helped him build his business and reputation in Greater Lafayette.

Friends may call from the Rosary at 4:45 until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the HAHN-GROEBER
FUNERAL HOME, 1104 Columbia St., Lafayette. The body will lie in state from 9A.M. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM Friday, Church of the Blessed Sacrament, West Lafayette, Fr. David Buckles and Fr. Paul Graf officiating. Interment, Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lafayette Area Catholic Schools Foundation. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com