Kenneth C. Gabel

Kenneth C. Gabel, age 86, of North Ridgeville, passed away after a lengthy illness on February 23, 2013 at the Ames Family Hospice House with his family by his side. He was born on July 15, 1926 in Avon, and served in the U.S. Navy on L.S.T. 285 during WWII. He was a resident of North Ridgeville for 30 years before moving to Clearwater, FL in 1990. Kenneth worked as the Director of Production Services for First Energy, retiring in 1990. Never one to sit still, upon moving to Clearwater, Kenneth worked for 6 more years at N.U.S. Halliburton. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, American Legion Post 0717 and V.F.W. Post 1079. In his free time, he enjoyed golf, wood carving, gardening, but most of all spending time with his family at the beach. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rita (nee O'Neil); sons Terry (Kathy) of Lakewood and Casey (Jeanne) of North Ridgeville; daughters Kathleen (Chuck) Smith of Oberlin, Kathleen (Ken) Koubek of Litchfield, Pamela (Ken) Scakacs of North Ridgeville and Judy (Tom) Hopkins of Grafton; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sister Lorene (Neil) Alston of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Jeanne (nee Brence) Gabel; son William Frey and daughter-in-law Patricia Gabel. The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM on Tuesday in the Bogner Family Funeral Home 36625 Center Ridge Road, N. Ridgeville where a prayer service will be held 9:30 AM Wednesday followed by a 10 AM Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church. Rev. Bob Franco will officiate. Interment with Military Honors in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Ames Family Hospice House, 30080 Hospice Way, Westlake 44145.