Norbert "Doc" Stigge was born on his grandfathers, John Stegge,  homestead in Washington County, south of Barnes, KS. He was twelfth of sixteen children. He attend St Peters Lutheran Church and a one room school that set next to the church. In first grade he acquired the nickname "Doc" because of a large black lunch box he carried to school. Doc attended Barnes High School, graduating in 1941. He played basketball, baseball and ran hurdles in track. He worked on the family farm until his farming deferment ran out and was drafted into the Army in 1944. Doc arrived in the Northern Alsace region of France on February 1, 1945 as a replacement soldier in the 42nd division. The 42nd was tasked in regaining a region lost in the Battle of the Bulge. Doc had two months of combat on the frontlines then went on to continue in Europe as part of the occupation force until June of 1946. He was awarded the Bronze medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat. Upon returning home he married Lorna Blanken and took prerequisite courses at Friends university and went on to graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 1952. The couple moved to Manhattan, KS were Doc practiced general optometry for 54 years. Courtesy of tributearchive.com