Sabotta, Quentin R.

Quentin R. Sabotta, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at Mercy Hallmar. Funeral Mass: 2 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2012, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Dennis Juhl and Deacon Jim Berger. Visitation from noon to service time Monday at the church. Burial: St. John's Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with military honors by VFW Post 788. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.

Quentin was born Jan. 4, 1920, in Trempeleau County, Wis., the son of Lawrence Sabotta and Johanna Kreibeck of Arcadia, Wis. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and for 3 1/2 years he was a prisoner of the Japanese. There are two Iowa members remaining from this group of Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

After his service, Quentin graduated from Winona State College in 1948, serving as Senior Class President, and then graduated in 1951 from the University of Minnesota with an MA degree in educational psychology. His professional career included 23 years with the Cedar Rapids Community School District and 35 years as an evaluator for Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Quentin was a member of VFW Post 788, American Psychological Association, and St. Ludmila's Parish.

Preceding him in death were his parents; older sister, Lucille McClaine; and younger brother, Adrian of Winona, Minn.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis I. Sabotta; their nine children, Denise (Dan) Ledegar, Diane Blewett (Tim Johnson), Paul (Marsha) Sabotta, Chris (Bruce) Beguhn, Sara Panek (Ron McGraw), Linda (Bob) Williams, Michael (Anne) Sabotta, John Sabotta, and Vince (Devon) Sabotta; and their 17 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Janice Heitman, of Stewartville, Minn.

Also surviving him are four children from a previous marriage.

Quentin was an avid hobby mechanic of cars and motorcycles, building three motor homes from scratch for family travel. He built the brick family home with Phyllis and colleagues and later an earth shelter in the country with the help of his children. He was forced to give up his Gold Wing and many projects at age 80 when macular degeneration stole his vision and his memory began to fail. He remained in his home until the last month of his life when he was no longer able to stand.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Ludmila Catholic Church.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Quentin at .

Published April 14, 2012 in The Gazette