1929
Louis
2023
Louis Sabatka
October 19, 1929 — October 9, 2023
Louis Joseph Sabatka, 93, of Atwood, KS, passed away Monday October 9, 2023, on his rural family farm northwest of Atwood.
He was born October 19, 1929, to Joseph and Pauline (Holub) Sabatka in Stratton, NE. He was the youngest of 5 children. He attended a rural elementary school and graduated from Atwood High School in 1947.
He married Rosalie Irene Curtin August 4, 1953, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood, KS. To this union were born 5 children: Kenneth, Janiece, Catherine, James (Jim) and John. Irene passed away on September 30, 1970. He married Elizabeth Marie (Schmidt) Collins on June 7, 1975, at St John Nepomucene Catholic Church in rural Atwood, bringing into our family daughters Lisa and Clara (Christi) Collins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Irene, an infant brother Viktor, sisters Emily (age 17), Beata Vrbas and husband Frank, and Agnes Reeh and husband Albert; sons Kenneth (age 39) and Jim (age 58).
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth, daughter-in-law Rhonda (Kenneth) Sabatka, daughter Janiece (Larry) Vohland, daughter Cathy (George) Block, daughter-in-law Linda (Jim) Robb-Sabatka, daughter Lisa (Brad) Moos, son John (Shelly) Sabatka, and daughter Claire [Christi] (Bob) Erwin. Also survived by fifteen grandchildren: Adam (Alexa) Sabatka; Jacque (Justin) Reinert, Kristen Reinert; Megan (Ben) McInnis, Natalie Block, Emily (Eric) Przybysz; Lauren (Christopher) Watts, Dalton Shoop, Connor and Callie Moos; Randi, Jay and Joe Sabatka; Ben and Samantha Erwin and 5 (soon to be 6) great grandchildren.
Louis was a lifelong farmer, beginning at age 17, living on the family farm until 2011 when he and Elizabeth moved to Atwood. He grew wheat, corn, milo, soybeans and sunflowers. In the early years, he also raised hogs and cattle. Louis was a generous and helpful neighbor.
From the time his first children were born, Louis did the cooking on Sundays. He was famous for Sunday morning pancake breakfasts and spaghetti and hotdogs for dinner. It was an open invitation for friends to join the family for breakfast after church.
He served on many boards, including 45 years as a director on the Beardsley Equity Cooperative Association, 27 years on the Rawlins County Conservation district, Atwood State Bank and Rawlins County Hospital boards. He served his church and community in many capacities for decades.
He was a private pilot for 50+ years acquiring his pilot’s license in 1968. He loved to fly his Cessna 172 and had a landing strip at the farm. He was a proud member of the Flying Farmers organization. He flew his last solo flight at age 91 and bequeathed the beloved plane to his son John who shares his love of flying.
Louis had an insatiable curiosity for life and how everything worked. He asked a million questions, embraced technology, loved to tinker and had he not been a farmer, could easily have been an engineer. Weeds feared him! He appreciated a well-maintained farmstead and mowed meticulously. He loved to be at the farm, it was his favorite place in the world. In recent years, he re-built and collected unique antique tractors and competed in tractor pulls at the annual Bird City Thresher Show. He loved ice cream, (really loved ice cream) and sharing it with the grandkids even more. He and Elizabeth enjoyed many road trips throughout the U.S., often traveling with friends and attended many niece and nephew’s weddings. They embarked on 2 Alaskan Cruises, a salmon fishing trip, a fall “colors” tour of the northeast U.S., the Hawaiian Islands, many other destinations and most recently a Mississippi river boat cruise. Louis and Elizabeth were long term and frequent patrons of the Western Plains Arts Association programs.
No matter how busy or far away from home, attending mass was of the utmost importance. He was a devoted member of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Beardsley, KS and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood, KS. Memorial contributions or mass intentions can be made to either church and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.
Services will be held at St John Nepomucene Catholic Church, rural Atwood, with visitation Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 5-7:00pm, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is Thursday, October 12, 2023, 10:00am followed by burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, rural Atwood. For information or condolences, visit baalmannmorturay.com
He was born October 19, 1929, to Joseph and Pauline (Holub) Sabatka in Stratton, NE. He was the youngest of 5 children. He attended a rural elementary school and graduated from Atwood High School in 1947.
He married Rosalie Irene Curtin August 4, 1953, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood, KS. To this union were born 5 children: Kenneth, Janiece, Catherine, James (Jim) and John. Irene passed away on September 30, 1970. He married Elizabeth Marie (Schmidt) Collins on June 7, 1975, at St John Nepomucene Catholic Church in rural Atwood, bringing into our family daughters Lisa and Clara (Christi) Collins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Irene, an infant brother Viktor, sisters Emily (age 17), Beata Vrbas and husband Frank, and Agnes Reeh and husband Albert; sons Kenneth (age 39) and Jim (age 58).
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth, daughter-in-law Rhonda (Kenneth) Sabatka, daughter Janiece (Larry) Vohland, daughter Cathy (George) Block, daughter-in-law Linda (Jim) Robb-Sabatka, daughter Lisa (Brad) Moos, son John (Shelly) Sabatka, and daughter Claire [Christi] (Bob) Erwin. Also survived by fifteen grandchildren: Adam (Alexa) Sabatka; Jacque (Justin) Reinert, Kristen Reinert; Megan (Ben) McInnis, Natalie Block, Emily (Eric) Przybysz; Lauren (Christopher) Watts, Dalton Shoop, Connor and Callie Moos; Randi, Jay and Joe Sabatka; Ben and Samantha Erwin and 5 (soon to be 6) great grandchildren.
Louis was a lifelong farmer, beginning at age 17, living on the family farm until 2011 when he and Elizabeth moved to Atwood. He grew wheat, corn, milo, soybeans and sunflowers. In the early years, he also raised hogs and cattle. Louis was a generous and helpful neighbor.
From the time his first children were born, Louis did the cooking on Sundays. He was famous for Sunday morning pancake breakfasts and spaghetti and hotdogs for dinner. It was an open invitation for friends to join the family for breakfast after church.
He served on many boards, including 45 years as a director on the Beardsley Equity Cooperative Association, 27 years on the Rawlins County Conservation district, Atwood State Bank and Rawlins County Hospital boards. He served his church and community in many capacities for decades.
He was a private pilot for 50+ years acquiring his pilot’s license in 1968. He loved to fly his Cessna 172 and had a landing strip at the farm. He was a proud member of the Flying Farmers organization. He flew his last solo flight at age 91 and bequeathed the beloved plane to his son John who shares his love of flying.
Louis had an insatiable curiosity for life and how everything worked. He asked a million questions, embraced technology, loved to tinker and had he not been a farmer, could easily have been an engineer. Weeds feared him! He appreciated a well-maintained farmstead and mowed meticulously. He loved to be at the farm, it was his favorite place in the world. In recent years, he re-built and collected unique antique tractors and competed in tractor pulls at the annual Bird City Thresher Show. He loved ice cream, (really loved ice cream) and sharing it with the grandkids even more. He and Elizabeth enjoyed many road trips throughout the U.S., often traveling with friends and attended many niece and nephew’s weddings. They embarked on 2 Alaskan Cruises, a salmon fishing trip, a fall “colors” tour of the northeast U.S., the Hawaiian Islands, many other destinations and most recently a Mississippi river boat cruise. Louis and Elizabeth were long term and frequent patrons of the Western Plains Arts Association programs.
No matter how busy or far away from home, attending mass was of the utmost importance. He was a devoted member of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Beardsley, KS and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood, KS. Memorial contributions or mass intentions can be made to either church and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.
Services will be held at St John Nepomucene Catholic Church, rural Atwood, with visitation Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 5-7:00pm, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is Thursday, October 12, 2023, 10:00am followed by burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, rural Atwood. For information or condolences, visit baalmannmorturay.com
To order memorial trees in memory of Louis Sabatka, please visit our tree store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church
Vigil
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Starts at 7:00 pm (Central time)
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church
Service
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church
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