John Sabo, 80, of Norton, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on September 4, 2009, after a courageous battle with heart disease.  John was born in Murray City, Ohio, where he graduated as a standout all-county basketball star at Murray City High School.  After a tour of duty serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War, he married the love of his life, Marge.  During their 58-year marriage, one of John's proudest accomplishments was raising a family of nine children. At times, he worked three jobs tirelessly, modeling hard work, responsibility, pride and love for his family.  Following the completion of courses at Hammel Business College, John began a 37-year career as a State Farm Insurance agent. He contributed to his community by serving as a volunteer Norton fireman, chairman of Norton area voting precinct committee, driver for Meals on Wheels, burial unit serviceman for VFW 3383, recording secretary for Knights of Columbus, master of ceremony for Norton's Memorial Day services, coach of Norton girl's youth softball, umpire for Norton youth sports teams, president of the Holy Name Society, Eucharistic lay minister, lector, member of the Slovak choir and CYO basketball coach at SS Cyril & Methodius Church in Barberton. John also gave selflessly of his time to countless organizations such as the American Red Cross, American Legion, Izaac Walton League, Ohio Farmer Sportsmen League, Wadsworth Deer Hunters Club, Jednota Club and Button Box Club. He touched and impacted many lives.  He was an all-around sportsman and loved competing on the State Farm mush ball team, Slovene Center bowling league and Barberton Moose golf team. He looked forward to his annual fishing trips to Canada and hunting trips to Colorado and West Virginia. His many fun outings with his kids are legendary, including water-skiing, tubing, boating, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, ice-skating and sled riding on the hill in the back yard.  John was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Frank Sabo; his brother Steve and sisters Theresa Struckel and Agnes Sabo. He is survived by his wife, Marge; daughters Kathy Yaussy, Janet Starr, Mary Jo Nichols, Diana (Denny) Ball, Christine Sabo (Ed Sunkin), Barbara (Mike) Primovero, and Beth (Jerry) Baughman; sons John (Terri) and Ron (Kim); grandchildren Melanie (Mike) Vinay; Laura (Dave) Mattle; Michael (Meghan) Nichols; Valerie (Keith) Carr; Sarah (Jason) Dunbar; Jan Yaussy; Heather, Michele, Joshua and Alexis Sabo; Shelley (Dave) Dannenberg; Daisy and Nathan Ball; Joey Sunkin; Alivia, Hanna and Niko Primovero; Jerry, Brooke and Leah Baughman; great-grandchildren Vincent and Parker Vinay, Ella Mattle, Jacob and Bennett Nichols, and Delaney and Lee Dannenberg; brothers Joseph (Rosemary) and Ted (Judy); sister Margaret Willimack; sisters-in-law Mary Ann Sabo, Ann Marks, Helen Struckel and Inez Wilhelm; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  The family will receive friends at the SILVA-HOSTETLER FUNERAL HOME, 1199 Wooster Road West, Barberton, on Monday, September 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Norton on Tuesday, September 8, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman.

Silva-Hostetler Funeral Home

330-825-8700