Obituary of Clarence Franklin Zabawa

Clarence Franklin "Chief" Zabawa, a resident of Pearland for 52 years, passed away Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Chief was born January 20, 1937, on the Bad River Indian Reservation in Hayward, WI to the late Clarence Michael and Cecilia Margaret (Shalafoe) Zabawa. Chief proudly served his country in the U. S. Air Force. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and usher. Chief was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #8960, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold Assembly #2084, and was a charter member and past President of the Houston ñ Hobby Airport Lion's Club. Chief is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Clarence Michael "Mike" Zabawa and his brother, Jerome Zabawa. He is survived by a loving family; his wife of 48 years, Joan (Groce) Zabawa; three children, Christina Lucas and husband, Roy, of Alvin, Christopher Zabawa and wife, Sherri, of Alvin and Ronnie Zabawa and wife, Tiffany, of Pearland; three sisters, Gloria Livingston, of Milwaukee, WI, Betty Johnson and husband, Bruce, of Bayfield, WI and Mary Duffy and husband, Joey, of Bayfield, WI; sister-in-law, Donna Zabawa, of Watertown, WI; eight grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be held Sunday, February 11, 2007, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, in Pearland, where a vigil and rosary will be offered at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM Monday, February 12, 2007, at St. Helen Catholic Church, 2209 Old Alvin Rd., in Pearland with Msgr. Reginald R. Nesvadba celebrating. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery, in Webster. For those desiring, memorials may be made in Chief's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or click here.