Norbert Leo Johnson    "Lion Norbert"

November 7, 1930 - February 22, 2025

Longtime Niles volunteer and businessman Norbert L. Johnson passed away February 22, 2025.

Norbert and his family lived in the same house on Claremont and Montrose in Chicago for 95 years. He was a Democratic precinct captain in the 47th Ward and was a Cook County deputy sheriff for two years before transferring to the probate court in the Daley Center where he was a clerk for the probate judges for 27 years before retiring in 1997.

Norbert moved his real estate office to Niles in 1968 where it remained until his passing. He was the president of the Niles Lions Club, co-founder of the Niles Crime Stoppers, member of the Niles Optimist Club, member of St. John Brebeuf and the Niles Senior Center Men's Club, Misericordia volunteer, life member of both the Niles Historical Society and Loyal Order of the Moose. Norbert was a member of the Niles Chamber of Commerce for 27 years, other various committees for 17 years and was the 2007 Ken Scheel Chamber Member of the Year recipient and 2017 Bob Wordell Living Legend Award recipient.

Norbert was the volunteer manager for the Clark Hallady Memorial Foundation since 2000 and managed to arrange $85,000 in grants to local charities including the Niles Chamber of Commerce Scholarship fund, Niles Lions Club, Niles Optimist Club, Joseph Academy, Niles Historical Society, Liponi Foundation, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and was the first person to give a grant to the Chamber's Scholarship fund in 2000.

Norbert had no immediate family but he did have a very large circle of devoted friends who mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents Solomon and Theresa (Stumvoll) Johnson along with a close personal friend Janina Forc.

Visitation at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, IL 60714 on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 from 4 p.m. until the time of the funeral services at 7 p.m.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Niles Lions Club, 6851 W. Dobson St., Niles, IL 60714.