Gordon GRABE

Artist, poet, entrepreneur, woodworker and author, his talents were abundant. Highly intelligent, he could converse on any subject. Dogs took to him like fish to water and he was careful not to tell them he liked cats better. He was happiest when he was doing something creative, he was generous to a fault and held that family was the most important thing. His daughter Jennifer and granddaughters, Sophia and Sienna were the light of his life. Gordon was born to Kathryn and Harold Grabe in Oakland, CA on September 29, 1939. He grew up and lived in Oakland with the exception of several years during the war when his father worked as an engineer of note for Ford Motor Co in Flint Michigan. After graduating from Oakland's Castlemont High School, Gordon attended Oakland Junior College, the University of California and California College of Arts and Crafts. He also studied Oriental Art. He loved the beauty and simplicity of Sumi-e painting and it is some of his best work. In 1967 Gordon moved to Santa Rosa with his bride, Phyllis. They later moved to Forestville where they opened a small shop. In the late 1970's they opened Coffee and Company in Sebastopol which was the first coffee house in Sonoma County. Gordon wrote and published The Hippie Cookbook in 1970; it is now a collector's item. This free spirit was released from the bonds of earth on June 14, 2012. He accepted his fate with grace and dignity. He is survived by his sister, Lynda Grabe of Selma, NC, his daughter, Jennifer Kaski (Collin Kaski) of Denver, CO and two granddaughters, Sophia and Sienna. He is also survived by his adopted family of Santa Rosa: Rita Nicholas, Stacey Hendrix, and Guy, Wendy, Heather and Christopher Nicholas. A special thanks to Drs Eki Abrams and Gary Johanson for their kindness and caring during Gordon's illness. A memorial service will be held July 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at The Gazebo in Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Rd., Sebastopol CA.