Norma Jean "Jeannie" (Odell) Sabin

Norma Jean “Jeannie” Sabin, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Monday, December 5, 2016, at the Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion.  She was born in Greeley, Iowa, on May 22, 1933, the daughter of Lincoln and “Lou” (Bolsinger) Odell.  Norma was raised and educated in the Greeley area, and was a 1950 Greeley High School graduate.  She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Fayette, Iowa, and then worked at Roshek’s Brothers Department Store as a fashion Buyer.  Norma also worked at the Hillcrest Baby Fold Orphanage in Dubuque.

On September 30, 1954, Norma was united in marriage to Gene Lindberg Sabin at the Greeley United Methodist Church.    Together they lived in rural Cedar Rapids.  While there Norma worked in the office of Quick Way Engineering.  In 1960 they moved to Manchester where she was a school bus and taxi driver.  She also worked at the Montgomery Ward Catalog Store.  Norma worked for Quest until 1992 when she retired.  She was active in the United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her three children, Deborah (Jeffery) Killoren of Cedar Rapids, Charles (Tamie) Sabin of Downing, Missouri, and Pamela (Tim) Kemmerer of Independence; three grandchildren, Ryan Kemmerer, Matt (Mandy) Kemmerer, and Crystal (Steve) Hird; two great-grandchildren, Cain and Aubrie Hird; and in-laws, Lylas Pensel and Phyllis (Hap) Salow all of Earlville, Kay Kruger of Altamonte Springs, Florida, and Lila Sabin of Cedar Rapids.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Lincoln (Pat) Odell and Lou (Ralph)  Robbins; her husband, Gene “Red” Sabin on December 19, 1988; siblings, Clayton Odell, Dorothy (Lon) Atkinson, Mary Lou (Claude) Grandstaff, Florence (Paul) Logan, Nancy (Earl) Strickler, Ruth (Lawrence) Kopecky, and Leonard (Deanna) Odell; and in-laws, Eileen (Leo) Schrunk, Bernie (Juanita) Sabin, John (Barb) Sabin, and Paul Sabin.

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