Norman Rubens

Norman "Norm" Rubens (April 14, 1958-June 4, 2024), age 66, concluded his final tour of life surrounded by loved ones at his home in Bartlett, following a courageous 17-month battle with glioblastoma. Described by those who knew him best as loving, funny, handy, and selfless, he had a presence that drew people to him. Norm leaves behind an ocean of grieving family members and friends, and to say we will miss him terribly is quite an understatement. He shared an unbreakable bond with his beloved wife of 17 years, Allison- his angel on Earth and the other half of his soul- who stood by him as an unwavering partner through all of life's adventures. Norm was the cherished brother of Yamima Osher and the proud son of the late Ed and Duane Rubens. He was a guiding light to his niece/stunt daughter, JoJo, who was as much a daughter to him as any biological bond would suggest. A proud graduate of Evanston Township High School (1976), Norm went on to attend Ball State University on a soccer scholarship. There he earned his Bachelor's Degree in business, and more importantly, made lifelong friends who were among his strongest supporters in his final fight. Together they traversed every soccer field (and house party) they came upon. His professional life was varied and colorful- the owner of a video store, then later a cross-stitch store. But you could most often find him taking care of the sales and service for Nabisco or on duty for the MET team at Home Depot. Norm's love for music knew no bounds, and he was one of few who could say he was on a first-name basis with Def Leppard's own Joe Elliott. He was also a lifelong, diehard fan of The Who. From city to city, and concert to concert, Norm and his partner-in-crime, Allison, could always be found in the front row, loving the show almost as much as they loved each other. Norm was a highly skilled, creative woodworker and home remodeler, regularly lending expertise to his family and friends. We could always count on him to solve any dilemma or fix anything that was broken (cracking a joke while doing it of course). His infectious sense of humor will never be matched, nor will his love for everyone around him. Rest in peace, broham. We know that you are entertaining the heavens with your air guitar solos. Thank you, Norm, for all the smiles, giggles, and outright belly laughs. You will be deeply missed. Do us a big favor Norm don't forget us, and we won't forget you.
Please join Norm's family for a celebration of his amazing life on Sunday, June 23, 2024, from 11-4 PM at Metropolis Ballroom (6 S. Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005). All are welcome to enjoy lunch, tell stories and see a display of all of Norm's favorite things. Please wear your favorite concert or soccer t-shirt in his honor.