A Family Funeral Home

Norbert Grey

August 2, 1929 - January 20, 2015
Racine, WI

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Visitation

Sunday, August 9, 2015
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM CDT
Preservation Hall Racine
740 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

Life Story / Obituary


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Norbert K. (Gosieski) Grey, age 85, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Medical Center. He was born in Racine, August 2, 1929, the youngest of four children to Konstant and Hattie Gosieski. Norby graduated from Washington Park High School.

With support and encouragement from his parents, he followed in the footsteps of his older siblings and pursued the study of music. Although he played many instruments, the tenor saxophone was the one he was most associated with. In addition to being a superb player, he was an excellent music composer/arranger, vocalist, teacher, instrument repairman and band leader of the “Norby Grey Orchestra”.

In 1949 he created and copyrighted,"Norby Grey's Chord Chart for the Modern Musician". As a young man, he played locally in various dance bands and pit orchestras for theater shows, backing up various acts such as "The Three Stooges". He performed and toured around the U.S. with many groups over the years, including his brother-in-law's "Virgil Whyte’s All- Girl Band", where he served as a guest soloist. It was at this time when he played with Virgil Whyte’s Band that he met a vocalist, trumpet player and bass player that caught his eye by the name of Florence “Mickey” Schorle.

Norby served in the U.S. Army as a band musician. In 1952 he completed the course of instruction for "Army Bandsman" given at the US Naval School of Music in Washington DC. He did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1953, where he earned the rank of Sgt. When he was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1953 he asked Mickey to join his quartet to tour professionally. One of the tours included playing at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mackinac Bridge. On August 6, 1955 in Traverse City, MI, they were united in marriage. When he and Mickey came off the road as performing musicians they settled in Racine to raise a family and run the family business Gosieski Music from 1956 until their retirement in 1999. They passed on the love and study of music to their own children, and continued to perform locally in nightclubs and other venues as the "Versi-Tones" and later the "Harmonairs".

Norbert was devoted to his family and will be deeply missed.

Surviving are his daughter, Noreen (Nate) Lienhard of Sparta, NJ; granddaughter, Karlyn Lienhard; brothers-in-law, Albert (Jean) Schorle, Donald Schorle of Canada; other relatives and dear friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mickey, Dec 3, 2012; son Mike, Dec 1, 1991; brothers, George Gosieski, Chet Goss; and sister, Trudy Whyte.

A celebration of Norby's and Mickey's Life will be held Sunday, August 9th, 2-5 P.M. at Preservation Hall Racine, 740 Lake Ave.

Special thanks and deep appreciation to cousins Kathy and Chris Strege and dear friend Alma Rincon for their constant love and support.