Norbert Kalinosky
One of the newest members of Council 10243, Norbert is a transfer from Duck Creek Council 6269 who came to us several months ago.  He brings with him a certain distinction--he is certainly the only member of our Council who has also been a member of numerous other Councils in the State.  In the forty or so years that he has been a member of the Knights of Columbus he has spent some time as an inactive Knight but has also been a member of Councils in Lena, Hazel Green and Marshfield before coming to Duck Creek and his current family of 10243 in Green Bay.

A native of Green Bay, Norbert first considered membership in the Knights many years ago when his older brother was involved.  At the time a new Council in Green Bay was getting started that took in some of the 'Preble folks.'  Since his life's work has been dedicated to public education, that caused him to move around the State every so often.  Rather than just letting membership in the Knights fall by the wayside, he chose to transfer membership to local Councils as a means of staying a part of things.  At one time in his life he considered a vocation to the priesthood and got to know Bishop John Grellinger, Auxiliary Bishop of Green Bay who was a seminary professor.  After graduating Cathedral School and the former Central Catholic High School in Green Bay, he attended Mt. Calvary Seminary.  After a time he went to St. Francis Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  After eventually leaving the seminary about two years prior to ordination he got into the educational field and found himself all over the State.

He spent some time in the army from 1954-56, and tells an interesting story of his experiences: After completing Intelligence School in Baltimore, it seemed that he was going to be sent to Korea.  Though the war was over, he didn't really fancy going over and he and some of his friends found out from their sergeant that 'They're not sending paratroopers over.'  Norbert is quite happy to say that he was willing to learn how to jump out of airplanes in order to get around a trip to Korea. Though he lost active membership in the Knights for a while the next years found him associated with a Council in Lena in the 70's and then Hazel Green.  After some time in Marshfield with one of the largest Councils in the State, he ended up in Duck Creek around 1994.  There he knew few people but found a 'great bunch of guys' and was soon elected Chancellor and moved on to Deputy Grand Knight.  Had he not moved again he might have ended up Grand Knight.  His involvement in education encompassed not only teaching but also administration.  He served as Assistant Principal at Preble and Principal at Shiocton before ending up Superintendent at Lena.

Norbert met his wife, Thelma, when they were both singing in the choir at Cathedral.  She worked as an LPN, and since his retirement in 1990 she has worked for the Red Cross in the blood program.  Norbert keeps busy around the house and also volunteers for St. Vincent de Paul ands well as delivering flowers for Schroeder's.  He and Thelma were married in 1960, having recently celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  They have eight children, most of whom live out of town but they come to visit often.  Norbert says he plans to stay in his house until he's carried out feet first, so it seems his day's of transferring Councils are behind him.  We are grateful for the wealth of experience in the Knights of Columbus that he brings to Council 10243.

September 2001