Belva Lockwood Sabatka 1911-2009

SABATKA KRAMER COOPER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/7/2010 at 23:11:24

Sioux City Journal
10 December 2009

SOLDIER, Iowa -- Belva Lockwood Sabatka, 98, of Whiting, Iowa, formerly of Soldier, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at Pleasant View Care Center at Whiting.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Rush Family Care Service at Onawa, Iowa, with the Rev. Ron Keith officiating. Burial will be in the Onawa Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rush Chapel in Onawa.

Belva was born Nov. 11, 1911, in Onawa, the youngest of three daughters of Peter and Emma (Kramer) Cooper. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Onawa High School in 1929 with a country school teaching degree.

She and Emil Ernest Sabatka were married Sept. 12, 1935, in Fremont, Neb. Emil farmed near Onawa and Soldier in Monona County for many years. The couple moved to Columbus, Neb., in 1962. Emil was a carpenter and drove an egg and cream truck, and Belva worked in various industries, including the electronic field.

After retirement in 1972, they moved back to the Hill Farm near Soldier, Iowa. In the winter months, they enjoyed taking their RV to Mesa, Ariz.

Emil died on June 22, 1977, at Soldier, and Belva managed the farms for 30 years after his death.

She was an active member in First Christian Church in Onawa for many years and the First Christian Church in Moorhead after 1955, when the couple moved to their farm. She loved to read, especially historical novels, had an interest in politics and considered education a high priority in her life. She also was an avid traveler, visiting 50 states, Canada, Mexico and 11 European countries. Her interest in camping started in 1916 at the age of 5. She was a Girl Scout Leader and supported 4-H. She felt very proud to come from a great family heritage. Her ancestors were some of the first homesteaders of Monona County.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Wayne Lee and Joanne Sabatka of Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Sharon Kay Stewart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four grandchildren, Shana Lee (Richard) Giese, Darcy Lynn (Bradley) Van Dee, Tammi Lin (Joel) Crocker and Tracy Lin (Cole) Hughes; and seven great-grandchildren, Caitlin Steele, Emma Giese, Jaden Van Dee, Taylor, Morgan and Ethan Hughes, and Keagan Crocker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and two sisters, Jennie McJunkin and Katie Dugdale.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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