Joe Lee Zabel

Joe Lee Zabel, 88, of Westmoreland, Kansas, passed away September 25, 2015 at his daughter’s home near Fostoria, Kansas. He was a life-long resident of Westmoreland.. He was born December 18, 1926 in Westmoreland, the son of Cleveland and Ada (Cook) Zabel. He attended schools in Westmoreland, graduating from Westmoreland High School in 1945, where he was an outstanding track and field athlete. After high school, he attended Kansas State University where he majored in Geology and belonged to the ROTC, before returning home to learn both the electrical and plumbing trade from his father. In the late 40’s and early 50’s, he and his dad traveled during the week to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and various places in Kansas, working for REA and other electrical contractors. They also spent some of those years working at Ft. Riley building army barracks. In 1951, Joe was drafted into the United States Army, during the Korean War, but remained stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas throughout its length. After the war, he and his father owned and operated Zabel Plumbing and Electric in Westmoreland, before working for the Army Corp of Engineers in the building of Tuttle Creek Dam facilities. He later became the head of maintenance at Dechairo Hospital in Westmoreland for the next two decades. In 1980, he took a job as a plumber for Kansas State University, where he retired in 1994. Joe was married to Alice Elaine Pickle on August 1, 1955 in Jamestown, Kansas. They lived their entire lives in Westmoreland. Together they traveled extensively and constantly attended their kids’ and grandkids’ events. Even when they had none of their own to watch, they could still be found at Westy Wildcat and Rock Creek Mustang football and basketball games. During his time in Westmoreland, Joe was involved in various community activities. He served several terms on the Westmoreland City Council. Joe was the head coach of the American Legion’s Pee Wee baseball program, which had many very successful seasons. He also assisted the Boy Scout program in Westmoreland as an Order of the Arrow counselor for many years. With his military service, Joe was a long-time member of the American Legion Post #186 in Westmoreland, where he was the Commander for many years. At time of his death, he was the Post’s oldest member. In his leisure time, Joe was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt deer, pheasant, prairie chickens, and quail and was an expert at trapping beaver, raccoons, and muskrats. However, above all else, his passion was fishing. He loved to fish and became one of the best fishermen in the state of Kansas. He and his wife, Elaine, won several Kansas Wildlife Federation State Fishing Championships in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Joe is survived by: his son, Michael J. Zabel and his wife Kelda of Wamego, KS; his daughters, Tammie S. Salsbury and her husband Mike of Manhattan, KS and Patty A. Council and her husband Billy of Westmoreland; his five grandchildren, Christina Needham (Heath) of Manhattan, Cassie Wayne (Wendell) of Junction City, KS, Brett Salsbury of Las Vegas, NV, Elizabeth Zabel of Salina, KS and Michael Zabel of Wamego, KS; and his great grandchild, Jayveon Thomas of Junction City. He is also survived by two nephews: Herbert F. Zabel (Betty) of Decatur, IL and Robert C. Zabel (Lenore) of Overland Park, KS. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Elaine (2008), his parents, and his only sibling Herbert C. Zabel. Per his wishes, cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 2, 2015, at Westmoreland City Cemetery. The family will greet friends during a visitation Thursday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Stewart Funeral Chapel of Westmoreland. In leiu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rock Creek Athletic Department, or, Homecare and Hospice of Manhattan, and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.