Jeannette Marie Sabatka was born December 19, 1951 to David and Marjorie (Nelson) Sutter in Lincoln, Nebraska. She graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1970, and in September of 1972 started working for the Lincoln Police Department as a meter maid. In 1975 she was promoted to dispatcher, where she remained until marrying her husband Steve Sabatka, on March 13, 1982 and moving to Wahoo in 1983. In 1990, Jeannette started her local community volunteer involvement at the Wahoo Senior Center Board of Directors and served as President and Treasurer until 1996. In 1993, she also became the Community Thrift Shop Manager and continued with that until 1997. In the years 2000-2001, she was the Saunders County Representative for Home Instead Senior Care. In October of 2002, she began work with the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging, as Program Coordinator for the Friendly Visitor Program. By February 2004, she began coordinating the same for Butler County. Jeannette loved working with the elderly. She served as the co-chairperson of the Saunders County Senior Enrichment Coalition. She was behind the idea of organizing a Senior Health Fair in Wahoo, an event she took great pride in and managed for the last 6 years. Jeannette also loved working the election booth for Wahoo Ward 1, and did so for several years, until May, having to give it up due to health reasons. She also was in charge of the Christmas Home Tours for several years. Jeannette passed away peacefully at her home on September 28, 2010.

"Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give…The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others…"

Jeannette is survived by her husband Steve; mother Marjorie Sutter; brothers and sisters in law Charles and Linda Sutter, and Clyde "Rusty" and Gayle Sutter, all of Lincoln, NE; Carl Sutter of Rosemond, CA; sister Joyce Sutter of Boise, ID; along with nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins; and her very special best friend of over 30 years, Annette Seuss of Papillion, NE. She was preceded in death by her father, David Sutter, grandparents Melvin and Opal Nelson of Lincoln and Fred and Georgia Sutter of St. Joseph, MO; two aunts and an infant nephew.