Norman Lopinski

Norman “Norm” Lopinski, 82, passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2021 at Harbor Chase of Long Grove, IL. Funeral Services were held privately.

Norm was known to have an uplifting outlook on life.  Most people didn’t know that in the last year of his life, he battled a variety of health challenges.  When asked how he was feeling, he would seldom complain, and often said he felt “wonderful”.

Norm was born and grew up in Toledo, OH.  He lived his adult life in Sylvania OH.  Norm was a graduate of Central Catholic High School (Class of 1956), where he played basketball, football and met the love of his life, Donna DiLorenzo.  He served his Country in the U.S. Army.  Norm started his career at Willy’s Jeep and worked his way through school, graduating in 1963 with an Engineering degree from the University of Toledo.  He continued at “Jeep” through various ownership changes and held positions in Engineering, Engineering Management and Corporate Engineering Management.  Retiring for the first time at the age of 48, he started a charter fishing business and a consulting engineering business.  Finding the Charter Fishing business to be a lot of work, he returned to the business world, as a Regional Sales Manager for Gilman Assembly.  On the side, he officiated high school/college football games, and for a short time had a building & concrete business.

He loved his immediate and extended family.  He was the patriarch of the whole clan.  He made great efforts to keep in contact and/or visit with everyone regularly.  He enjoyed dining out to treat family and friends to a good meal. Norm was also a man of Faith. He loved reading the Bible and praying the Rosary. He was a long time member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Sylvania, OH) where over the years he served as a lector and an usher.

Norm lived life to the fullest and loved the outdoors. He really enjoyed the opportunity to get together with family or his buddies to play golf, bowl, fish, hunt, shoot trap/targets and cycle. He was also a private pilot. Norm was a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Boston Celtics, Notre Dame, Ohio State and the Toledo Rockets.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 63 years, Donna (DiLorenzo) Lopinski; children Matt (Sarah) Lopinski, Cindy (Greg) Berlacher, and Christina (Jeff) Barrett; Grandchildren Franz (Susie) and Sera Berlacher, Catie (Mateo), Kelsey, Sophie and Caroline Barrett, Nick and Hannah Lopinski; Great Grandson, Franz Berlacher; his sisters-in-law, Franny Dymarkowski, Patty Sader and Betty Reibel; his brother-in-law, Herman Reed and his nieces & nephews, Jim, Mike, Karen and Rob Lopinski, Wendy McCollum, Herm Reed, Doug and Paul Dymarkowski, Lynn Breen, Jenny Sader, Pam Nicholson and Sheri Poling.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lottie Lopinski; In-Laws, Nick and Serafina DiLorenzo; siblings Jim Lopinski and Ruthie Reed; brothers-in-law, Paul Dymarkowski and Bill Sader; and nephew, Mark Reed.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests tributes to a charity of the donor’s choice.