Please join Knobby's family & friends on Wednesday, June 23rd , at 1pm at the Longmeadow Golf Club, 165 Havilah St., Lowell, Ma for a memorial-life celebration luncheon.
Norbert "Knobby" Pestana, 79, passed away suddenly on May 19, 2010, after suffering from a stroke at his “snowbird” home in Lake Havasu City, AZ.,
Born June 21, 1930, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, , Knobby was the youngest of eight children born to Manuel and Hilda Pestana. He joined the Air Force after graduating from high school and met and married his first wife, Vera Reinertson (who predeceased him in 2001). He traveled in military service from Alaska to South America and throughout the United States. Both of his children, Mark and Lisa, were born during his tour of duty in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1957-1960. Upon retiring from active military duty, Mr. Pestana and his family settled back in his hometown of Tewksbury, where he continued to work as an Air Force Recruiter, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant before retiring after nearly 30 years with the USAF.
Knobby then embarked on another government career, with the US Postal Service, working as a letter-carrier until eventually retiring for good in 1992. After that, he began wintering in Arizona and eventually spending half year each in Lake Havasu and Massachusetts.
In 2002, he married Wanda and enjoyed an active social life with family & friends both in Lake Havasu City and here in Massachusetts. Knobby was known for his good nature, big heart and ability to talk to anyone, anytime about just about anything.
An avid golfer, he belonged to the Long Meadow Golf Course in Lowell as well as the London Bridge and the Lake Havasu Golf clubs in Arizona. He was a member of the Tewksbury Elks Club as well as the Lions Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Rubens and her husband ,Peter; his son, Mark Pestana and his wife, Lori; 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren; and his second wife, Wanda.
