Norma Jean Sobba

Norma Jean Sobba, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Norma was born at the home of Theodore Hass, her grandmother Leach’s brother, in the German Baptist community of Worden, Kansas, to Russell and Minnie (Lee) Leach on April 4, 1935. She attended high school at Wellsville High School where she graduated in 1953. Norma went on to work for many years as a bookkeeper for the Bennett Creamery company in Ottawa until it closed. She then worked in Mound City for the Linn County tax office and later retired from the Ottawa Walmart pharmacy.

Norma enjoyed square dancing for thirty-five years. She and her husband, Robert, later danced with a senior’s dance group, OURS, in Lawrence for many more years. Norma’s greatest legacy was her devotion to animals. She loved all animals and her reward was their unconditional love in return. Aside from the many cherished dogs and cats that Norma and Bob shared in their home over the years, she also fed and tended to numerous stray and abandoned cats and worked with the Prairie Paws Animal Shelter’s spay and neuter program to help alleviate the feral cat population in her neighborhood. Norma will reunite with all of her beloved pets, fifteen cats and five dogs, as they cross The Rainbow Bridge together. A special thanks to Debie Nelson, head of the Prairie Paws Neutering Program.

Norma was wed to Harold Pennington in 1955. They would later divorce. Norma had two children with Harold, a daughter Debra (Pennington) Bugner (Don) of Lawrence, Kansas and a son JR Pennington (Mona) of Apache Junction, Arizona. On June 3, 1972, Norma was united in marriage to Robert Sobba who preceded her in death in 2023. Norma is survived by her children and sister Joyce (Leach) Murray and Joyce’s children Shanlea Jackson, Delana Crist, and Dustin Jelik. Also, her grandchildren Dalton Bugner (Molly), Daryl Bell (Jack), Chris Barkley (Medina), and Curt Barkley (Michelle); great grandchildren Beckham Bugner, Berkley and Goldie Bell, Pierce, Weston and Harper Barkley, Alexis and Sierra Barkley; and Robert’s daughter Terrie Titus.

She is preceded in death by her parents Russell and Minnie (Billie) Leach and her brothers Gene and Bob Leach; her brother in law Larry Murray; and Robert’s son Kenneth Sobba.

There will be no formal services as a private inurnment will be held at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Prairie Paws Animal Shelter c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

To share your memories of Norma or to send a special condolence message to her family, please visit the guestbook below.

Rainbow Bridge

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

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