Deborah A. (Debbie) Jabas
Deborah A. (Debbie) Jabas, 62, of Waupun died Saturday, August 31, 2013 at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Debbie was born May 22, 1951 in Appleton, WI, the daughter of Richard and Nancy St. Louis Jabas. Debbie attended Appleton schools and graduated from Appleton East High School. She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Disorders. On August 28, 1974 she married Neil Gleason in Silver Lake, New York. The couple resided in Syracuse, New York for about a year where Neil taught school and then moved to Owen, WI where Debbie taught at Owen-Withee schools for three years as a speech therapist. In 1978 they moved to Waupun where she worked for CESA 6 (Cooperative Educational Services Agency 6) out of Oshkosh for many years. The last ten years of her career were spent at The Early Learning Center in North Fond du Lac where she was an instructor in Early Childhood Special Needs, a position which was the highlight of her career. She especially loved working alongside the other early childhood educators – affectionately known as “the sisters”. Debbie was a member of the Union-Congregational Church in Waupun.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Neil Gleason of Waupun; daughter, Emily (Erik) Wettersten of Golden, CO; her mother, Nancy Bruce of Summit Lake, WI; sister, Wendy (Mark) Laux of Brown Deer; brother, Russell (Lisa) Jabas of Appleton; two step-sisters, Sue (William) Hamilton of Madison and Sharon (Dan) Kohl of Appleton; step-brother, Steve (Gail) Bruce of Neenah; and many other relatives and friends.
Debbie was preceded in death by son, Benjamin (Ben) Gleason on March 11, 2013; her father, Richard Jabas; and step-father, William Bruce.
Memorial services for Deborah Jabas will be held Saturday, September 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Union-Congregational Church in Waupun with Rev. Mark Arbisi officiating. Friends and relatives of Debbie may call on the family at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
The family requests memorials be directed to Recovery Foundation (an affiliate of Connections Counseling) 5005 University Avenue, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53705 or online at www.recoveryfoundation.net to make a donations which will provide funding for uninsured young people in need of alcohol and drug treatment.
Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home of Waupun and staff are serving the family. Please visit www.wernerharmsenfuneralhome.com for further information and to send condolences.