Gary F Giebels

Born to Charles and Viola Giebels on March 7, 1943, Gary grew up in Rudolph, Wisconsin with his sister, LaVeryl, and brothers, Donn, Bruce, and David.

Short track stock car racing was popular in Rudolph, and Gary built his own car in his early teens. When race officials discovered that Gary was too young to drive, his best friend, future NASCAR Rookie of the Year, Dick Trickle, slid behind the wheel.

After being suspended from Rudolph High School 41 times for stunts like driving his motorcycle into the school and parking it by the water fountain, Gary got his GED and joined the United States Marine Corps. He fought in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Haiti. He boxed in the Golden Gloves, and served as a personal bodyguard for Navy Admiral Charles T. Booth II.

Once honorably discharged from service, Gary married Sharon Joosten, who was his caregiver in his final years as Lewy Body Dementia took his strength, but not his toughness. The two became parents to Marci (Kelly) and Myndi (John). While the girls were young, Gary developed an auto leasing company called “Car-Opt.” Wood County National Bank in Wisconsin Rapids bought the company and brought Gary on as Vice President. Gary also founded Midwest Financial Corporation, which leased everything from egg-laying chickens to airplanes. Giebels-Holloway Properties built and leased commercial real estate for clients like the fast-food corporation, Wendy’s. Eventually, Gary would open an upscale billiard room and restaurant in Rapids called Doc & Eddy’s.

Gary started sailing when friend and partner George Holloway recruited him to crew on his Class A racing yacht, CINDAMAR. Their claim to fame was “technically” winning the Chicago-Mack, beating Ted Turner’s team.

In 1982, Gary and Sharon opened a real estate company in Wisconsin Rapids called G.F. Giebels & Co. Better Homes and Gardens, where they worked side by side until 1986. That was the year they sold everything to embark upon an extended sailing sabbatical. Marci and Myndi attended school via correspondence courses while the family traveled. During the yearslong adventure, Gary traded consulting work for shared ownership of Hall of Fame Marina in Ft. Lauderdale, and doubled their capacity.

When it was time to move back to land, the Giebels’ chose Cape Coral, where Gary became an elected official. As a councilman, Gary succeeded in making the city co-holder of the county seat.

Gary loved racing motorcycles, stock cars, and sailboats. He loved golf, music, and animals. Gary transformed every property he owned into a botanical garden. He was exceptionally intelligent, fearless, adventurous, and tough. He didn’t leave a dream unlived. Gary had two tenets: Leave a place a little better than you found it, and when someone offers you something for nothing, take as little as you can. His goal was to advance his family several generations in his lifetime. Gary’s grandchildren, Braden, Bailey, Carson, and Rafferty are proof that his mission was accomplished.