Norval Netsch, 87, of Windsor, Missouri, died Thursday evening, December 18, 2025. Norval was born February 19, 1938, to Herman and Hester Netsch near Osborn, Mo. In 1940 they moved to a farm near Windsor, Mo. His early life was that of a typical farm boy who did chores, helped in the fields, fished, swam and hunted whenever he could. He walked up the creek to Sunny Side Country School, then rode the school bus to Leeton High School, graduating 1954. His first non-farm job was at the International Shoe Factory which stimulated him to go to Mizzou, where he received a Master’s in Fishery Management. There he met and married his lifetime love, Mary Jane Coble.
Norval was a member of the University of Missouri Varsity and ROTC Rifle Teams. After college Norval served 2 years Active Duty in the United States Army as an Instructor at the Artillery & Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After serving in the Reserves, he was honorably discharged as a Captain. His professional career began as a Fisheries Biologist with the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission. There he rose through the ranks to Fisheries Division Assistant Chief; then a job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a Research Biologist at the Reservoir Research Program in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In 1970, he transferred to Alaska to conduct research, help develop and enforce guidelines to minimize detrimental impacts of the Trans Alaska Pipeline for the Chief of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program in Alaska. During this time, he became a Certified Scuba Diver, obtained a Commercial License as an Airplane Pilot, and was a certified pilot and scuba diver with the USFWS. He took an early retirement in 1984, spending one summer as sports Fishing Guide in the Iliamna area of Alaska. Norval and Jane bought part of family farm near Windsor and restored the old farmhouse. During this time, he worked as a Fishery Biologist with the Missouri Dept of Conservation until he was called by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to return to Alaska as Director of the Sport Fish Division. This was too good to turn down so Norval returned to serve in that challenging but rewarding position. He finally retired again and came back to Missouri in 1993.
During his career, Norval was active with many professional and sporting organizations, including lifetime membership with The American Fisheries Society, Trout Unlimited, International Federation of Fly Fisheries, and Alaska Fly Fisheries. He was an avid Fly Fisherman. Back at the farm, he fished, hunted, put the crop land in the Conservative Reserve Program, planted thousands of trees, grafted hundreds of Black Walnut trees, restored an old barn into a woodworking shop where he made everything from games to slab furniture. He was an active member of the Missouri Nut Growers Association in which he served as President, on the Board of Directors and hosted several meetings at his farm. He enjoyed visits from his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Norval is survived by his wife Jane; 3 children, Francie (Stacey) Blackwell, Jenny (Didier) Villard, Tim (Elizabeth) Netsch; 7 grandchildren, Noah Blackwell, Jill Hughes (Anthony), Roman Villard (Meghan), Noëlle Fede (Hunter), Josie Jane Villard, Ivey Netsch and Elsa Netsch; 9 great-grandchildren, Calvin, Clara Jane, Luc, Selah, Margot, Paxton, Lulu, Linnie, and Truett. Norval was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Hester Netsch; a sister, Norma Newbill; and a brother Newell Netsch.
Memorial services will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Warrensburg church of Christ. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be observed. Burial will be in the Laurel Oak Cemetery, Windsor, at a later date. The family suggests contributions to the Warrensburg church of Christ and those may be left in care of the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor. Condolences may be left online at www.hadleyfuneralhome.com.
