About
Gary Gabel Obituary
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
To leave an online condolence for the family or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.mvfh.org.
Gary is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue Gabel; daughter, Sara (Todd) Christiansen, sons, Brady and Jase; son-in-law, Guille Miguel, and his children, Kayla, Aryn, and Kerri Anne; sister-in-law, Janelle Gabel; nieces and nephews, Merrill, Pam, Stephanie, Melanie, Casey, and Matt; brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Mary Walker, their children Catherine (Steve), and Kimberly, and granddaughter, Maddi; as well as many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Sheila Miguel; grandson, Tj Miguel; sister, Geraldine Rees; and brothers, Ronald and Russell Gabel.
Gary Lloyd Gabel was born on March 31, 1943, to Harlan and Elna (Carlson) Gabel in Ankeny, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm in Ankeny and graduated from Ankeny High School in 1961. Gary continued his education at Greatview Community College and later at Drake University, where he completed his master's degree plus 39 additional graduate hours, coming close to earning a Ph.D.
Gary was a gifted and dedicated social sciences teacher in the Des Moines and Lincoln High School systems. He married Sue on July 25, 1964 at Glen Echo Church in Des Moines, and together they raised two daughters in Ankeny.
He was a proud member of the Lake Washburn Association, where he and Sue spent half of each year at their cherished generational cabin. There, they formed lifelong friendships with neighbors whose cabins had been built by hand generations before. Gary loved spending time on the lake, fishing, and capturing nature and landscape photography.
Gary was also a member of the Ankeny Methodist Church and was known for his devotion to his family. He will be dearly missed by those that knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Lake Washburn Association, P.O. Box 26, Outing, MN 56662.
To send a flower arrangement in memory of Gary L. Gabel, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
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4 Entries
Thomas Hardy
December 2, 2025
I had Mr. Gabel for History in 2000, we didn´t get along very well at first, I was too cool for school. He saw promise in me that few teachers did, and when I returned to take an elective with him the next year I´ll always remember him being so genuinely excited I chose to come back for round 2. I didn´t know him well but he was an amazing teacher. Condolences to all of his friends and family.
Larry Martindale
December 2, 2025
Dear Sue, Sarah, Brady, Jase, and family of Gary Gabel:
On behalf of Betty and I, and the staff at Abraham Lincoln high school 1980-1987, we wish to extend our most sincere condolences to each of you at Gary´s passing as he was an outstanding educator, good friend, excellent communicator, and a person that treated both staff and students and friends like family.
I had the privilege of being one of the vice principals at Lincoln from 1980 to 1987 and I so much enjoyed working closely with Gary as he was in charge of the NCA School Evaluation Team. Gary was greatly admired by his students and the entire staff at Lincoln as he was exceedingly bright, had a keen sense of humor, and was just one of those all around good guys that brighten your day every time you came into contact with him. To say that Gary cared deeply for his students, friends, and especially his family, would be a huge understatement. He loved each of them sincerely. I personally had many wonderful conversations and classroom visits with Gary at Lincoln high school and he truly loved that school. Mr. Melvin Bowen, the long time admired school principal, thought the world of Gary. During our weekly administrative meetings in Mr. Bowen´s office, when something would come up of significance, Mr. Bowen would turn to us and say, " We better run that bye Gary Gabel and see what he thinks about that." Gary was marvelous friend and Professional Educator
Our thoughts and prayers will be with each of you in the days and months that lie ahead. No doubt in my mind that Gary is no longer suffering and is in heaven, smiling down upon us all.
Dr. Larry C. Martindale
Retired Vice Principal ALHS
December 2, 2025
Harold Swihart
November 30, 2025
I´ve known Gary since he came to Lincoln all those years ago. He was a talented and dedicated teacher and a good friend. I remember pitch games at the "Ike´s", fishing trips and great jokes in the Men´s lounge.
He will be definitely missed.
Harold Swihart
Caroline Cowles
November 29, 2025
Blessings to family and friends. He was in the neighboring room during my time at Lincoln, a good teacher and a good neighbor. Caroline Cowles
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