WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Robert A. Zabel, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2015, at Matthew 7:7 Adult Foster Care Home in White Pigeon. He was born April 27, 1928, in Sturgis, a son of the late Herman and Inez (Reamer) Zabel. Bob was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1945. On June 30, 1952, he married the love of his life, Norma Englarth, in Sturgis. She died Nov. 18, 2014.
Bob had been employed by the Ivers Lee Company in Shipshewana, Ind., for 22 years and for five years by Burr Oak Tool & Gauge in Sturgis. His true passion and what he took great pride in was being a lifelong farmer.
Bob was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army during the KoreanWar from 1951-1953, earning the rank of private first class.
He was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis and also was a member of the American Hereford Association, Farm Bureau and he loved time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by four sons, Timothy (Amy) Zabel of Cataula, Ga., Thomas Zabel, Terry (Jackie) Zabel and Ted (Jeanna) Zabel all of Sturgis; 11 grandchildren: Kyle, Keeley, Nicole, Lindsay, Payton, Zachary, Anna, Elizabeth, David, Benjamin andMary; and a great granddaughter, Chloe.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Robert A. Zabel will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Calvin Kolzow will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. Full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Zabel’s memory consider Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 S. Lakeview Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
