Norman William Eubank, 66
Norman William Eubank, 66, of Pontiac, died suddenly March 27, 2025, while on his morning run.
A visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville with a celebration of life ceremony immediately following at the funeral home. His family will host a fish fry at their home in Pontiac beginning at 5 p.m. that evening, and guests are asked to bring their own beverages, a side dish and a story to share.
Norman was born Oct. 13, 1958, in Poplar Bluff, to Dr. N.H. and Collie Eubank. He spent several childhood years in Auburn, Alabama, where his dad was an instructor in the veterinary school at Auburn University and Norman became somewhat of a Tigers fan (mainly cheering for them when they played against Alabama or Arkansas). His family moved back to Poplar Bluff before Norman started grade school, and he then became a life-long Mule (in more ways than one). He was a proud percussionist in the Poplar Bluff High School Show-Me Marching Band, and he was a four-year letterman on the PBHS Mules wrestling team, becoming the first wrestler from Poplar Bluff to qualify for state. He graduated from PBHS in 1977.
After graduating with a degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University in 1981 and attending the Missouri State Water Patrol Academy, Norman was stationed as a water patrolman on Bull Shoals Lake in Pontiac. On Dec. 19, 1981, he married his college sweetheart, Karen.
Having grown up on muddy Lake Wappapello, he was stunned by the beautiful, clear waters of Bull Shoals, and when the State wanted to transfer him two years later to a new lake north of Kansas City, Norman said, “Boys, you sent me to God’s Country, and I’m not leaving.” When the State said he couldn’t refuse a transfer and he’d never make a living here, in true Norman fashion, his response was, “First of all, you don’t own me, and secondly, I’m gonna try my best.” And boy, did he.
Norman worked for several years at Pontiac Cove Boat Dock, pumping gas, filling the minnow tank, outfitting boats, and doing whatever was necessary in order to raise his family in the little community he had already grown to love. He eventually went on to work at boat and trailer companies in the area, where his strong work ethics always advanced him to managerial positions; his real love, though, was designing and creating, and many of his innovations are still used in the boating industry today. Recently, he was also a co-owner of Lake Bums BrewCo in Pontiac, where his love for drinking beer grew into a passion for creating new beer recipes to share with customers and friends.
Norman and Karen raised three sons, Zac, Sam, and Lucas, and he considered them his greatest joy and grandest accomplishment. He was a committed father, coaching their summer baseball teams, cheering them on at every ballgame and track meet throughout high school, attending their spelling bees and band concerts and science fairs, pulling them and their friends on inner tubes and wakeboards all over the lake, and sharing the finer points of “no blood, no foul” backyard basketball with them and their buddies. He was always there for them.
And perhaps that simply “being there” was his greatest attribute. His family, his countless friends, his colleagues and neighbors all knew they could count on Norman to do whatever needed to be done. If Karen wanted to traipse all over God’s green earth taking photos, he carried her camera bag and scoped out trails (with only minimal grumbling). If friends needed a sounding board or a shoulder to lean on, they knew they could come to him. Colleagues knew if they needed a loan until pay day, he was the guy to ask, and if neighbors needed a boat worked on, Norman was their guy. He also volunteered for several years with the American Cancer Society and pedaled 100-mile bike fundraisers for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He gave his time, his money, his smile and his heart to make the world around him a better place.
After retiring in 2019, Norman learned to relax just a little. He enjoyed hiking, biking, and traveling all over the country with Karen. He also enjoyed checking out new breweries, restoring old motorcycles, tinkering in his shop, playing percussion with his Half Step Down band members, cheering on (and complaining about) his St. Louis Cardinals, and laughing and reminiscing with his boys and his buddies. He lived a full life; it just wasn’t long enough.
Norman is survived by Karen, his wife of 43 years; son Zac (Malika); son Sam (Robert); son Lucas (Kelly); brother Jon (Berdie); brother Daniel (Charlotte); brother-in-law Brad (Steve); several nieces and nephews, and so many friends who loved him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pontiac Price-Place VFD First Responders (PO Box 1, Pontiac MO 65729), the Gainesville High School Baseball Program (422 Bulldog Drive, Gainesville MO 65655), The Wheatley Historical Preservation Association (PO Box 3956, Poplar Bluff MO 63902), or the Poplar Bluff High School Wrestling Program (3209 Oak Grove Road, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, ATTN: Athletic Director).
Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.