Richard Lee Zabel died on March 6, 2019, in San Angelo, Texas. He was born April 1, 1947 in Atchison, Kansas to Arthur and Lorinda (Rabe) Zabel. He received the blessings of Holy Baptism on April 30, 1947, and the gift of faith grew in his life. On August 9, 1969, he married Cheryl Voshell and God blessed them with two daughters and a son.
In 1973, he graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. And in 1987 he earned a Masters in Family Life Education and Counseling from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
He served as army chaplain from 1975-1995, serving at Ft. Seward, GA; Neckarsulm, Germany; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Ft. Ord, CA; Baumholder and Stuttgart, Germany and Ft. Bliss, TX. When he retired from the military in 1995, he was awarded the St. Martin of Tours Medal.
As a parish pastor he served congregations in Meade, KS; Beaver, OK; and Grace Lutheran in Wichita, KS.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Voshell) Zabel of Winter Springs, FL; daughters: Holly (Tom) Stovall of San Angelo, TX; Jennifer (Matt) Smith of Oviedo, FL; and son, Adam Zabel of Westmoreland, TN. Grandchildren: Nick, Dillon and Sam in Texas; Jack, Robert, Chloe and Elle in Florida; Cailey, Paige, Melody and Riley in TN. Brother, Larry Zabel of Atchinson, nephew Tony and niece Marla, mother-in-law, Thlema Voshell.
He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Samuel Voshell.
Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran, 600 N. Greenwich, Wichita, KS on Friday, March 15, 2019; viewing at the church from 10 AM to Noon; service at 1:30 PM and burial at Lakeview Cemetery, Wichita, KS.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association of Wichita, KS in the Richard Zabel Memorial Fund.
