Norman (Gene) Lublin

Longtime Moses Lake resident Norman E. “Gene” Lublin, 88, passed from this earthly life at his home in Overland Park, Kan., on July 16, 2025.

Gene was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 25, 1936. He was the 10th of 15 children born to his parents, Blaine Lublin Jr. and Della Mae Hislop. 

Growing up, Gene dealt with and overcame several challenges due to his being born with both a cleft lip and a cleft palate. Through those physical challenges, he developed an innate ability to seek out, be mindful of the one, and help others feel cared for and valued.

The summer after graduating from high school, Gene moved to Washington state where his parents purchased land to establish what would later become the Lublin Dairy. 

Shortly following their arrival in Washington, Gene began an apprenticeship in tile installation. Following time there, he received a call to the Mexico LDS Mission, where he served honorably for three years. 

Gene met Marcella Faye Herman through mutual friends at church, and he fell hard for the pretty blonde with the big blue eyes and 24-inch waist. They were married for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple on May 22, 1963. They settled into the Little House on the Dairy. 

Gene and Marcella were blessed to welcome four children: Marjean, Nathan, Allison and baby boy Jon Sheldon, who passed away in infancy. 

Upon Gene’s father’s retirement, Gene assumed full-time operation of the Lublin Dairy in the early 1970s. Having Nathan and Beth on the dairy and working hard alongside him and Mom for so many years allowed Gene to step back a bit from the daily grind of long hours and stinky cows to jump in with both feet more fully into Gene’s Tile. 

Gene was a craftsman through and through. He literally wore out his knees and a rotator cuff excelling in the trade he loved. Tile work brought him great satisfaction and many, many satisfied customers.  

One of the most lasting adages that Gene instilled in his family was “If you are going to do something, do it right the first time.” He spoke often of that and of the importance of “having a purpose,” especially in his later years as our family tried to talk him into slowing down the work a bit. He was having none of that! He took extreme pride in his work and remained a fastidious perfectionist to the very end.  

On March 13, 2020, (a Friday, no less) he suffered a major stroke. He completed six weeks of rehab at St. Luke’s in Spokane amid the throes of the COVID lockdown. It was difficult for him and us, but he endured and came home to try and get back to the level of his previous activity.  

He fought valiantly to recover and made great strides in doing so. His stubborn determination, present since birth, served him well once again. Ultimately, Gene and Marcella moved to Overland Park, Kan., in February of 2021 to be near their daughter and son-in-law who helped them maneuver life away from their beloved home and property on Mae Valley Road. 

Gene had a great love of his wife and family, hard work, the Gospel, See’s candy, more hard work, playful teasing (especially the grandkids), belly laughs (especially after said teasing), Mom’s cooking, walking fast everywhere he went, any little chance to “just rest his eyes,” his grandkids and now great-grandkids, and some occasional colorful language. Dad’s intensely blue and sparkling eyes were disarmingly charming, and he most likely used them to his advantage a time or two, or most likely probably more. 

Gene is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marcella; their children, daughter Marjean (Gene) Caresia, son Nathan (Reva) Lublin, daughter Allison (JR) Vela and daughter-in-law Beth Witters; surviving siblings Lois Jenkins and Lynn Lublin; grandchildren Brittany (Neil) Ellers, Hillary (Jordan) Miers, Justin (Morgan) Caresia, Brandon (Jaden) Lublin, Braeden (Alicya) Manor, Courtney (Brandon) Arnett, Bailey (Chase) Tunstall, Preston Tate Manor,  Haden Lublin and Kalie Vela; great-grandchildren Emmie, Bennett, Heston, Parker, Sedona, Porter, Quinn and a great-grandson due to arrive on Gene’s birthday, Sept 25.

Gene’s funeral services are as follows:

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Moses Lake East LDS Stake Center

1515 S. Division St.

Moses Lake, Wash.

Visitation 9:30 a.m.

Funeral Service 11 a.m.

Graveside service immediately following at Guarding Angels Cemetery

A link to join the service by Zoom will be posted online