Robert (Bob) Sabin, late of Outram, passed away in Estevan on Monday, November 21, 2011 at the age of 89 years. Dad was born February 24, 1922, the seventh of 14 children at home in the Minton district to Andrew and Janet Sabin. Bob is predeceased by his parents, Andrew & Janet Sabin; brothers, Alf, Bill and Clifford; sisters, Margaret Skappel, Elsie Sabin, Esther Marin, Josie Throssell, Stella Shaver and Mildred Nelson; sisters-in-law, Mary (Chartrand) Sabin, Charlotte Kolke and Jean (McDougal) Sabin; brothers-in-law, Oliver Skappel, Everet Marin, Harvey Throssell, Ken Mackie, Ed Buchholz, Tex Pashko, Edgar Ribling, Leonard Ribling, Norman Ribling and Bruno Kolke; grandson David Sabin. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothea (Ribling) Sabin; daughters, Marlyne (Wayne) Dolinsky, Brandon, MB, Marilyn (Bill) Herschmiller, Vegreville, AB, Annette (Bill) Isely, Nipawin, and Arlette Sabin (Pete Yoner), Estevan; son Randy (Vi) Sabin, Estevan; grandchildren, Jackie (Mohsen) Mechlaqui, Clark (Bonnie) Herschmiller, Dr. Vernon (Laura) Dolinsky, Jennifer (Yvan) Russell, James Isely (Sheryl Plishka), and Devin Isely (Jolene Harris); great grandchildren, Chantelle Burton, Brett and Keely Herschmiller, Ilyana Russell, Ashton and Oakley Isely-Harris, and Jett Plishka-Isely; step-grandchildren, Heather and Todd (Hannah and John), Veronica and Robert (Mary, Michael, Ely, Benjamin, Luke and Owen); brother Archie (Kathy) Sabin, Alta; sisters, Mae Buchholz, Alta, Helen Mackie, BC and Elaine Pashko, Alta; sisters-in-law, Esther (Gauly) Sabin, Regina, Mary-Anne Sabin, Cochrane, Alta and Betty Ribling, Estevan; brothers-in-law, Archie Shaver, Bengough, and Leif, Nelson, BC. Dad enlisted in the army in 1943 but due to pleurisy was discharged six months later. When Dorothea Ribling was teaching at Big Four School from 1944 - 1946, Dad volunteered to be janitor at the school after meeting her. They married on December 16, 1947. Their first home was in Roan Mare Coulee at the base of the buffalo jump. They moved to the Outram area in June 1948. Marlyne and Marilyn, the first set of twins were followed by a second set of twins, Annette and Arlette and finally, a son, Randy, who didn't grow a neck until the age of two. Randy met and married Violet, a gal just like dear old Mom. Along with her came her daughters, Veronica and Heather. Veronica and Robert and their children, Mary, Michael, Ely, Benjamin, Luke, and Owen; plus Heather and Todd and their children, Hannah and Johnny visits brought so much joy to Dad since he got such a kick out of children. Marilyn and Marlyne recall when they were in Grade 3 or 4 and their school friends were so excited about Dad being a cowboy. He, with the help of our Uncles, Norman and Leonard, had been bringing his cattle home from the community pasture and had driven the herd past the Outram school. They were on horseback of course - there were no stock trailers then. We were all so proud of him and can recognize his reluctance to learn to drive a vehicle, let alone own one, when you can have a horse or two or threeof course. No one else in school could brag of having a real cowboy for a Dad. Who else can boast of their Dad peeling a kettle full of potatoes? His love of potatoes had nothing to do with the antics he must have done to get kitchen duty more than once, while he was training in the army. When Mom broke her arm one winter around Christmas, he was again peeling potatoes. We remember him singing to Annette's sons, James and Devin, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer". All of his grandchildren and Mom's nieces and nephews enjoyed his storytelling. He would be laying on the couch, with a child in the crook of his arm, reading a book, but in his own words. Before you knew it they were both sawing logs. Friends and family enjoyed his many stories and his great imitations of the character's voices. We learned about his home town of Minton's many acquaintances, whether it was the bachelor, living with goats and visited by the health nurse or riding a bike down the middle of the highway, as that was what the middle line was painted for, or having a hard of hearing person ask what hymn was being sung in church and being told it was "Tipperary". His brothers-in-law, Norman and Leonard, and later his sons-in-law and daughter-in-law were encouraged to drive him or come along to visit friends and relatives. These adventures were enjoyed as they got to see great paintings by the Shavers, historical sights of the buffalo jump, rodeos, school reunions and homecomings. We enjoyed our annual vacations by coming back home. Dad would have his new rocks, new bead creations and beautiful rugs to show us. We often left with beaded sheep, turkeys, stars, clocks, table runners, and bells to name a few. These will all have a permanent place in our homes to be shared with our own children and grandchildren. Dad never was one for gushing "I love you" but we knew it by the little things he did. Such as when we got our first jobs in Estevan and would come home on our days off. Before we'd go back to Estevan our car would disappear because he'd be topping our gas up out of his regular gas barrel and then tell us maybe you had better think about new tires or changing the oil soon. But if he had the time, he'd do that for us too. Dad was an admirer of God's handiwork and a respecter of nature. He took the time to show us the burrowing owl's nest and not disturb it, the beavers and the beaver's dam; in the spring the baby bunnies, and the first crocuses and buttercups; the sky and clouds and what it meant as to the weather coming in. Through his rock collection including fossils and arrowheads he taught us where they came from and how they were formed. Dad taught us that you can always find a picture or a story out of anything. Let your imagination go, square your shoulders, pick up your feet but walk with a light step. There will always be something to treasure, something to enjoy and something to learn if you keep going forward. He enjoyed different people and appreciated their differences and said the world would be a boring place if everyone was the same. See you later Dad and what would always bring a smile to your face when Vi would say, "Don't forget to rope that "cafy"! A funeral service for Bob was held on Friday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Torquay with Pastor Bob Schultz officiating. Interment followed in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Outram.Those so wishing may make donations to the Lung Association of Saskatchewan or the Church of the Lutheran Brethren Canada in Bob's memory. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
