Sabas G. Ponce

Sabas “Sam” Garcia Ponce, age 72, a long time resident of Wisconsin and Dodge County, died at his home on Friday, May 7, 2010, following a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer”s and End Stage Renal Failure.

A visitation for Sabas will be held at the Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Thursday, May 13, 2010 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home on Thursday, beginning at 1:00 PM. Chaplain Bob Lantz will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens in the Town of Trenton, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

He was born January 13th, 1938, in Laredo, Texas. Sabas, or Sam, as he was known to many, traveled to many states and lived in many areas, but two became his home for many years, the Quad Cities in Illinois and the Dodge County area in Wisconsin. On August 23, 1974, he was united in marriage to Debra Ann Justinger (previously of Sheboygan County, WI) in Asby, IA.

Mr. Ponce had worked for 12 years in the 70”s and 80”s at the McLaughlin Body Company in Moline, IL, where he was affectionately referred to as “Paco” by his co-workers. In the late 1980”s. Mr. Ponce and his family moved back to Wisconsin to the Sheboygan County area and still later to Beaver Dam and Waupun areas.

Sabas was a biker in his early years running with outfits like the Outlaws, Runaways, Night Riders, among others. Mr. Ponce was also a golden gloves boxer and bounty hunter in his lifetime and helped psychiatrists in Texas, acting as an interpreter. Sabas was a man of many talents including an impressive skill at mechanics and drawing. He was a free spirit and lived his life every day like it was the last. His presence lit up the room and his heart was bigger than the world. He will be missed forever by those that knew him.

Sam lived a good, but a hard life. From 3 years old on, Sabas had to be a fighter, and he did not stop fighting the good fight even at the end.

Sabas is survived by his wife, Debra; his son, Brian Ponce of Waupun, WI; his daughter, Jessica Ponce-Sierra of Madison, WI; two grandchildren, Joshua Ponce-Sierra of Waupun and Paul Ponce-Price of Oostburg, WI; two sisters, Maria (Joe) Castillo of Plainview, TX, Maria Lopez of Aurora, IL and one brother, George Silva of Washington DC; He is further survived by many in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Sabas was preceded in death by his biological parents, Manuel and Lucia Ponce; his adoptive parents, Daniel and Trinidad Sierra; and other close relatives.

The Murray Funeral Home, 131 E. Maple Ave in Beaver Dam, is caring for the family. To leave condolences, for directions, or for other information, please visit our website at www.MurrayFH.com.

Visitation Details

Thursday, May 13th, 2010, 11:00am – 1:00pm

Service Details

Thursday, May 13th, 2010, 1:00pm

Interment Details

Highland Memory Gardens-Beaver Dam