Published: August 25, 2008 08:23 am      

Robert James Kabat

Robert James Kabat, 71, of Centralia, formerly of Du Bois, passed away at 4:35 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon.

Robert was a retired coal mine welder and machinist, working for the Consol Coal Company. He had also worked for Taylor Brothers Welding in Tamaroa and at GS Metals in Pinckneyville.

He was a member of the St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois. He was also a member of the UMWA, Waltonville Amvets and had been a Tamaroa High School board member for several years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Germany.

He was born Sept. 17, 1936, at Chester, the son of Nick and Anna (Skorczewski) Kabat. Robert married Shirley M. Tomaszewski on Sept. 21, 1959, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Radom, and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Centralia; eight children, Paulette Hamlin and husband Tom of Du Quoin, Margie Barton and husband Greg of Centralia, Robert Kabat and wife Marlene of Scheller, Larry Kabat and wife Rita of Woodlawn, Gary Kabat and wife Sandra of Woodlawn, Kenneth Kabat and wife Theresa of Anna, Tom Kabat and wife Amber of West Frankfort, Monica Kabat and special friend James of Du Quoin; sister, Mary Ann Radake and husband Rich of Tamaroa; brother, Father Carl Kabat of St. Louis; sister-in-law, Lorene Kabat of Du Bois; and 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leonard Kabat and Father Paul Kabat.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois with Father Oliver Nwachukwu officiating. Burial will be in the St. Charles Cemetery in Du Bois.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Friends may make memorials to the St. Charles Cemetery, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.