Jim was born on November 4, 1960, on a military base on the Island of Okinawa, Japan to Milton William Sabin and his wife Shigeko (Kinjo) Sabin. In the Japanese tradition, Jim was Number One Son.
Although born an American Citizen, Jim first touched United States soil in Hawaii in 1964. After relocating several times due to Milton’s work with Rockwell Collins, the family finally settled in Westgate, IA., Milton’s hometown. Jim graduated from West Central Community High School in 1979. After a brief enlistment in the Army and an honorable discharge, Jim continued his education earning a Welding
Certification, Certified Firearms Instructor and an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering.
Jim’s career included variety of types of work including working in the family business – a bar and grill in Westgate, diesel mechanics, welding, electronics repair, Cable TV and software support. But Jim loved computers, which led him to Gateway Computers in North Sioux City, South Dakota.
It was at Gateway that Jim met his wife and soulmate, Julie (JP) Poss. Of the thousands of seat assignments within Gateway, Jim was assigned to sit next to her. They were married the following year, on October 11, 1997, at St, Andrew’s Catholic Church in Julie’s hometown, Sibley, Ia.
In June of 2005 Jim and Julie adopted newborn infant Katherine Susan. Katie was the joy of Jim’s life. He was so proud of how she grew up to become a wonderful young lady.
Jim never forgot his military oath to the Constitution of the United States of America. He enjoyed a variety of interests including computers, travel, camping, classic cars, history, reading, the Iowa Hawkeyes, Jets, Mets, and Saints. But most of all, Jim loved to cook. He was a spectacular chef with an educated pallet, and family and friends often enjoyed his international cuisine. Katie’s and Jim’s first love was traditional Japanese food that Jim’s mother taught him to make.
Jim loved family most of all. He is survived by his wife, Julie Sabin, his daughter Katie Sabin, sisters Sherry Sabin and Georgia (Royal) Wood of Mechanicsville, VA, brother Steve Sabin of Franklin, IN, sister Debbie Feight of Orlando, FL, nieces and nephews, several cousins and his friend and brother Roger Prickett of Maynard, IA.
Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, Milton and Shigeko Sabin, father-in-law and mother-in-law Ambrose and Dolores Poss, Grandmother Susan Sabin, an infant brother, brother-in-law Royal Wood, and extended family members.
Jim had a task he took very seriously, making at least one person smile every day. He told Julie a few weeks before his passing that he would hope to be remembered with smiles and laughter and love, or not at all. That was his final wish for family and friends and everybody he loved and those who loved him. So, if Jim ever got you to smile, please remember him for a moment, and then make someone smile.
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