Herbert Notch

Dr. Herbert L. Notch, 91, of Des Moines, passed away on June 20, 2025, from complications of a stroke.

Herb was born in Melrose, Minnesota on October 27, 1933, to Al and Clara Notch. He grew up farming and from ages thirteen to twenty-four attended seminary at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. His first appointment as priest was to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clarissa, MN; later working as a priest and school administrator in Diocese of Saint Cloud. He transitioned to secular work in mental health counseling in the early 1970s, receiving his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa. He opened his own mental health counseling practice in Des Moines, Iowa in 1978 where he practiced for forty-seven years. He was director of the Jasper County Mental Health Center, worked at the Polk County Mental Health Center (now Eyerly-Ball) and the Social Security Disability Determination Service for the State of Iowa. He was a consultant for Turning Point in Winterset and was a supervising psychologist for International United Advanced Planning agency in Des Moines, which at the time, was the only methadone treatment facility in Des Moines.

Herbert is survived by his children, Patty Notch, Sheree (Estuardo) Archila, John Notch, and Jennifer (Joseph) Selby; as well as his grandchildren, Hannah, Noah, Nathan (Madison), Emily, Tatiana (Tania), and Jayla Notch; Alejandro and Adriana Archila Notch; and Morgan, Jonathan (Kamryn), and Nick Notch. Additionally, his brother Alvin (Diane) Notch; sisters Mary Lenk, Doris (Eddie) Pachan; Bernice Polak; Dorene (Lawrence) Lenk; sisters-in-law Marlys Notch and Donna Notch; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his second wife, Barbara, and first wife, Diane; his parents, Al and Clara; his brothers, Albert, Don, Dick, and Ralph Notch; his brothers-in-law, Vincent Lenk, and Edward Polak; and his sister-in-law, Janice Notch.

The family will greet friends Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home; 5400 SW 9th Street. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025 at the funeral home. A private internment will be held at a later time at Glendale Cemetery. For those unable to attend the service in person, it will be livestreamed on Hamilton’s Funeral Home website.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Herbert.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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