September 10, 2020 – West Bend, WI – On Sunday, September 6, 2020, Jeff Sabel made his final escape from this realm. It is thought by those that he leaves behind he was heading out to catch all the fish that eluded him over the years.
Jeff was born on February 8, 1956, to parents Joyce and Robert. He really became the charge of his elder and only sister, Joann, who had her hands full already with brother Steve and would soon learn that Jeff would require a lot of supervision.
Robert later remarried a wonderful woman named Ruthie, and brothers Shawn and Mark were added to the clan.
Joyce also remarried a man named Dewey Demers, and Dane was subsequently added to the litter.
Mark, a former marine and always the responsible and prompt type, was the first of the Sabel children to make it to the other side.
Jeff was also preceded to the final event by both of his parents and step-parents. In an effort to catch more fish first, Jeff’s best friend and brother-in-law, Dan Flemming, also made an early escape from this realm. Jeff was also deeply sorry to be preceded in his great escape by his dear niece, Kim Flemming, and his adopted children, Cariane Echard Murray and Scotty Sabel.
Jeff was an outdoors kind of guy down to his core. Part of the reason he moved to Virginia later in life was so he could always sport the natural tan he had become known for. He loved camping, fishing, swimming, and hiking. He served in the Air Force and was a retired veteran.
Jeff was also an avid Packers fan. Seven years ago, when he had a life-threatening illness, his VERY first words after coming off of a ventilator and out of a medically-induced coma were “Why the hell are you rooting for the Vikings?”
Living in Virginia limited the number of games he got to see, but one can rest assured that if it were available it would be on.
From an early age, he was a faithful reader and has read every single crappy western novel that was or ever will be available. He liked to think of himself as something of a Buffalo Bill or a Butch Cassidy, you know the type, “I’m not crazy; I’m colorful.” He also enjoyed other such genres like science-fiction, horror, and thrillers.
In 1982 Jeff found lasting sobriety and the Unity Club. He absolutely dedicated himself and his life to the program and fellowship of A.A.
Throughout the years, he has made numerous connections and friendships in Wisconsin, Virginia, and all over the country. The annual fishing trips he took with the close friends he made through A.A. were some of his most treasured times. His sobriety and service to the program were his most treasured accomplishments. It was through the program and the Unity Club where he met his future wife, Tina Lochen.
Jeff married Tina after surviving the aforementioned illness. It dawned on him he may not have an unlimited amount of time; he ought to make sure he did the things he wanted while he still had the time. Tina has just the right mixture of patience and punch to put up with him. He and Tina were married on April Fool’s day as Jeff said that was the best day for a man getting married for the fourth time. For the last several years, they have lived surrounded by friends and fellowship in Roanoke, Virginia.
Jeff leaves behind his wife Tina Sabel (nee Lochen), children Derik (Diane) Sabel, Cheryl Sabel, Sandi (Leanne) Rivera, Jacques (Amy) LeTendre, his granddaughter Kenlynn Sabel, his beloved big sister Joann Flemming, close nephews Jamie (Stacy) Flemming and Brian Flemming, grand-nieces Cala and Madison Ohser, his brothers Shawn Sabel, Steve Sabel, Dane Demers, and Skippy, numerous other nieces and nephews, and many friends he thought of as brothers and sisters in the fellowship of A.A.
A “celebration of life” (Jeff would hate that it’s called that) will be held by his family at Riverside Park on Saturday, September 26 from 1 pm – 4 pm. The family encourages his friends to come and share a memory with them and celebrate a life well-lived. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be made in the form of a donation to the Unity Club 1715 Creek Rd, West Bend, WI 53090 or the Exodus house 1421 Fond Du Lac Ave, Kewaskum, WI 53040.