John Sabaliauskas

John Sabaliauskas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1940. He grew up in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1949. After a year in Mitchell, South Dakota, his family settled in Omaha. After attending St. Anthony’s grade school and graduating from South High School, John enlisted in the US Army. He spent two years with the 101st Airborne, often joking with his friends that he was more of a Puking Buzzard than a Screaming Eagle. On his return to Omaha, John attended beauty school, obtaining his cosmetology license. He was the owner of the Blue Chiffon Salon from 1965-1974 and continued to cut hair until just a few years ago. Having a dad who could give a perm was a big perk for his daughters in the 80s and 90s! During his time as a salon owner, John met Kathy. They married in 1970 and had four children (Ann Marie, John Jr, Amy, and Jeanette) in 3 ½ years. In 1974, John decided he wanted to be a bar owner. He built and opened the Sundowner Bar and Grill in South Omaha. During the summers, the kids loved to ride their bikes to the bar and have a delicious hamburger with Dad. Sunday mornings after Mass, one kid was bound to ask, “Dad, are we going to the bar?” Helping clean the bar to get it ready to open was followed with a glass of pop from the fountain, which was a great treat! John was the owner of the Sundowner until 1992. In December of 1993, John and Kathy heard that a family from Bosnia were arriving in the United States on medical visas and needed a place to stay. Wanting to help another family like his family was helped, John stepped up. On Christmas Eve, Zineta Coric and her three children, Mirela, Mersiha, and Ramo, arrived and instantly became family. A year later, Zineta’s husband, Omer, joined them. They lived with John and Kathy for 18 months before they were ready to move out on their own, and both families remain close today. In 1994, John and Kathy became snowbirds, choosing to spend their winters in Arizona. They had many different homes and dear friends in Mesa, Queen Creek, and Gilbert. Due to Kathy’s health and the fact that she missed her kids and grandkids so much, they moved back to the Omaha area permanently in 2017. John’s Catholic faith was a huge part of his life. Attending daily Mass was a staple of his life. He always arrived early enough to say at least one rosary before Mass, and he loved to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He and Kathy started prayer groups in Arizona (2000) and Omaha (2009) that still meet weekly. He attended his first Alpha class and went on a Cursio Retreat in 2012. This led to his involvement with Jail Ministry in Omaha, which turned into Prison Ministry as and Alpha leader in Omaha and Arizona from 2015-2025. John made one pilgrimage to the Holy Land and six pilgrimages to Medjugorje, bringing back hundreds of blessed medals and rosaries and handing them out to anyone and everyone. Anyone who has one of John’s beloved wooden rosaries knows it was given to them with love. John made time in his day to attend as many classes as he could at church. Learning more about his faith brought him great joy. He was usually the first to volunteer for any fix-it jobs around the church campus. John was an acolyte and served at many funerals in the last few years and was an EMHC at one time. He enjoyed carrying cash with him and handing it out to those he thought would need it. During his life, John owned a number of apartment buildings throughout Omaha, finally retiring from that responsibility in 2006. He was also on several bowling and golf leagues for several years, making good friends along the way. John was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1983, obtaining the honor of 3rd and 4th Degree Knight. In 2023, John met and married Mary Case. While their time together was short, the Lord brought them together to share His blessings of faith, love, and laughter. In January of 2026, John was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. As always, John’s faith and trust was firmly in the Lord, and his eyes were fixed on Heaven. He continued to live his faith until his last breath, passing as his family finished praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Kathy, daughter, Jeanette, brother Joe, sisters Helen and Janie, brother-in-law Jim Wieborg, dear friend Omer Coric, and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Mary Case, children, Ann Marie Baker (Randy), John Jr (Holly), and Amy Urzendowski (Dan), grandchildren, Sydney Urzendowski-Yosten (Jordan Yosten), Nate Urzendowski (Jamie Hynek), Nora Baker (Deven Carrier), Alice Baker, Jolie Sabaliauskas, and Avery Sabaliauskas, brothers Pete, Antanas (Gene), and Zigmas (Jackie), sisters Valerie Prismantas, Vera (Joe) Crnkovich, and Irene Kreft, dozens of nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Bonnie Wieborg, Zineta Coric, Mirela Coric, Mersiha (Midhat) Terzic, Ramo (Anesa) Coric, Lyla Zornic, Sara and Neyla Terzic, Ejla and Ilhan Coric, and Mary’s family, Tricia (Aaron) Mahan, Casey and Ciara Mahan. John will be remembered as a caring and loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. In honor of him, please pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. After all, it’s 3:00 somewhere! May he rest in peace.

John Sabaliauskas

July 27, 1940 - February 26, 2026