Gary Lloyd Gabel, age 82, of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2025, with his loving family at his side.

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.