Obituary of Ron Gabel
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Ron Mervyn Gabel, Husband of Doreen Gabel, much loved brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2024 at Yorkton Regional Health Center.
Ron Gabel was born March 16 1942, to William and Irene Gabel on the family farm near Fenwood Sk. Three years later his sister Beverley was born. They both were raised and helped on the family farm. He started his education at the one room Kenningsberg School where he met some of his lifelong friends. He acquired everything there was to know at Kenningsberg and then moved up to the Melville high school where he often bragged about graduating with honors in grade 10!!! Ron then entered the work force in 1959, getting his first job at Swifts in Melville, on the turkey kill floor. He then decided that it was better for him to sell them than to kill them, so he started his career at the Ok Economy in Melville which took him to the Regina and Yorkton branches as well. In 1964 along with his father, he started what would be a lifelong passion of running dozer, mostly clearing bush and disking for farmers all over Saskatchewan.
In 1964 he met the love of his life, Doreen Kurylowich, in Yorkton where their romance started. She left the small town of Benito Manitoba to head to the big city lights of Yorkton, and her life changed forever after meeting Ron. They then got married May 12th 1967, and later had 2 sons Dwayne and Dean.
Over the years Ron worked at various jobs such as selling insurance, longshoring in Vancouver, Morris Rod Weeder, and the city of Yorkton, before going back to his passion of land clearing. Then in 1987 they moved out to the farm in the Fenwood area, where they grain farmed until 2002 and then sold the farm but remained living there until 2011, when they moved into Yorkton. While out in Fenwood they also took up raising sheep, fishing and camping, and many evenings playing cards till all hours with the neighbors. In 1992 Ron started working winters as a grain grader at crop insurance for the next 25 years until his retirement where he learned to play crib, and honed his skill at dozing off at the computer.
Before and during retirement Ron and Doreen enjoyed spending time with their family and friends, whether it be camping and fishing, traveling or just playing a good card game. They especially cherished their time traveling with his sister Bev and brother-in-law Elroy. They also took great joy in spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which they could never get enough of.
Ron was predeceased by his parents William and Irene (nee Herman) Gabel; Father and Mother-in-law William and Annie (nee Lylyk) Kurylowich; Brother-in-laws Elroy Ulmer; Alex Kurylowich; Adam Burtnack; Al Riehl; Daughter-in-law Carla Gabel (nee Babchishin).
Left to cherish his memory Wife Doreen of 57 years; Sons Dwayne (Carmen) Gabel, Dean (Bettyanne) Gabel; Grandchildren Scott, Pierce, and Kalah Gabel, Zach (Jessie) and Jake Gabel; Great-grandchildren Kayden, Kayson and Kyler Gabel; Extended family Jessica and Danny (Ivy, Hunter, Cara) Schick, Callie and Nicoli (Audree) Ochitwa, Luke Reid, and Sister Beverley: Brother-in-law's and Sister-in-in-law's Peter and Doreen Kurylowich, Julie Kurylowich, Vickie and Eugene Duchnitski, Eugene and Sonja Kurylowich, Bernice Burtnack, Joe Kurylowich and Violet Riehl and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, support, words of comfort, and acts of kindness during this difficult time. We would also like to thank Dr. VanHeerdan and the staff at the YRHC for the care that Ron received, as well as Bailey’s Funeral home for their compassionate guidance and direction in making our arrangements.
The Funeral Service was held on Friday, August 2, 2024 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Pastor Steve Rosluk from First Baptist Church, Yorkton officiating. Accompanist Amanda Buhler led the congregation in the hymns. Dwayne Gabel shared words of remembrance. The interment followed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Dean Gabel, Dwayne Gabel, Zachary Gabel, Scott Gabel, Pierce Gabel and Jake Gabel serving as casket bearers.
Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church (35 Smith St., Yorkton, SK S3N 0H3) as gifts of remembrance.
