Norman Henry Sachnik age 90 of Galveston died Monday April 25, 2022 at Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston. Funeral Mass is 11am Saturday April 30, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church Galveston. Burial will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 8:00pm Friday at the church where a rosary will be recited at 6:30pm. www.carnesbrothers.com

Norman Henry Sachnik was born in Houston on June 10, 1931 to Frank Joseph Sachnik and Ellen Hedwig (Serdan) Sachnik. Born the fourth child, he is predeceased by his parents and sisters, Mary Constance and Sr. Dorothy Rae Sachnik, CVI and by his sister-in-law Betty Brown Wyatt Sachnik.

Norman was raised in the Heights and the East End, where his parents owned and operated a neighborhood grocery and general merchandise store. He attended school at both All Saints in the Heights and Blessed Sacrament in the East End. He graduated from St. Thomas High School. He began collegiate studies at Rice University, then transferred and graduated from the University of Houston in 1953 with a degree in Mechanical engineering. While in high school, Norman participated in a musical performance with the young women of St. Agnes Academy and met Marguerite (Margie) Christine Amador, who quickly became the love of his life. Once Margie realized that this was, indeed, a match made in heaven, she and Norman were married. They married on June 14, 1952. During their nearly 70 years of married life, they lived in Houston, San Angelo, Bastrop and Galveston.

Norman began his career in engineering and he and Margie began a family as well. Born to their union were Stephen Gerard Sachnik (spouse Eric), Michelle (Shelley) Marie Heatley (spouse Phillip), Therese (Terri) Elaine Sachnik (spouse Marcy), and Frank Martin (Marty) Sachnik (spouse Irene). A brilliant engineer, Norman had a successful career during which he received eighteen patents for his inventions which include spray nozzles, special surfactants (which he also manufactured), a milo popper for feed lots and even raincoats designed for goats! A tinkerer at heart, Norman loved his workshop and his many DIY projects which even included design, construction and installation of an elevator for the house in Galveston.

Always loving and trusting their father, but not quite trusting the elevator, the kids usually preferred to take the stairs. But the elevator worked! Norman was known for his unusual remedies and solutions to project problems and son Stephen coined the term "Polish remedies" to describe the unusual and creative solutions Norman always seemed to come up with. His grandchildren benefited from his creative designs. Norman would go on to invent and build his grandchildren a self titled "Land Surfer". In which they would zoom around with Norman chasing behind them. As Norman's career progressed, he became known for his knowledge and ability to communicate the intricacies of his work. He came to be in great demand as a consulting engineer, traveling all over the country and beyond to consult and testify in court.

Aside from engineering, Norman seemed to know a lot about a lot of things, amazing friends and family with the breadth of his knowledge; yet, he always assumed a humble attitude in his dealings with others treating everyone equally and with respect. Norman had wide interests and his hobbies included fishing, boating, road trips, birding, and general putzing in his workshop, especially the dream workshop he built at the house in Galveston. He also enjoyed camping and his time with Margie in the Jean Lafitte Society in Galveston. And, clear to all who knew him, he enjoyed story-telling, both listening and telling.

A devout Christian and Catholic, Norman was active in every parish he attended, often offering his beautiful baritone voice to church choirs and always offering engineering advice when needed. His warning and engineering advice kept the bells of St. Patrick's from crashing down from the bell tower which they were perilously close to doing. His faith made him the compassionate person he was, always willing to lend a helping hand wherever he went.

Norman is survived by his wife and love, Margie, and by his four children and their spouses, listed above. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Hayley Christine Heatley Bray (spouse Jesse Bray), Lindsay Philippa Heatley, and Maria Magdalena Arteaga-Sachnik, and by great[1]granddaughter Dorothy Lily Bray. Also surviving are his brothers, Francis Lamar (spouse Alba Lugo) and Edward Boyd (spouse Joan Gagnon) and by many nephews and nieces and their families who also loved their uncle.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Norman's children and grandchildren. Norman's destination in the next life is clear to all of us and we can all be sure that, by now, the Pearly Gates have been re-engineered, perhaps with a Polish remedy or two, and are in splendid working condition thanks to Norman Henry Sachnik.