William 'Gabe' Gabriel, 74

William "Gabe" Gabriel, 74, a former auto and RV dealer and Korean War veteran, of Great Falls, died of complications from COPD on Saturday at Peace Hospice. William Gabriel was born March 4, 1933, to Luther and Mary Gabriel in Malta. His family moved to Great Falls in 1928, where he attended school and graduated from Great Falls High in 1951.

As a Navy reservist, he was called to active duty during the Korean War and after being discharged in 1954, he returned to Great Falls to marry his high-school sweetheart, Irene A. Chambers.

He attended the College of Great Falls and worked part time for his father at Gabe's Auto Sales for two years. He then spent the next two years in the insurance business before joining Bison Ford in 1958, as a salesman, and was promoted to used-car-sales manager in 1959. In 1967, he and his family moved to Missoula, and he became the general manager of Wakley Dodge. And a year later he bought his own Dodge dealership, Big Valley Dodge, in Kalispell. He then added an RV dealership handling the Winnebago and Fleetwood lines. Bill sold his Dodge dealership in 1976 and the RV dealership in 1978 and then spent the next year building a new home in Lakeside. He spent the next several years selling new and used cars for the local dealers.

In 1985, he and his wife, Irene, moved to Mesa, Ariz., where he continued his career in the RV business. Unfortunately, his wife was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in March 1986. He returned to Great Falls to assist his ailing father and then married Patricia Bohmer. Bill then helped set up a RV store for Gus and Jacks Tire and in 1989 joined Traveltime RV as a sales representative, finally retiring in 1999.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Pat Gabriel, of Great Falls; four stepchildren, James Carlson, Lennart Carlson, Tammy Parenteau and Steve, and Stephanie Meredith; 10 grandchildren, all of Great Falls. He is also survived by his children, Ann Druce and Tom of Helena, Laura Quadros and Tony of Condon, Rod and Terasa of Missoula, and Elizabeth Santora and Randy of Spokane; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Todd; and his wife, Irene.

Bill was a member of the Elks, Eagles, VFW, Masonic Lodge, and the DeMolay.

His interests included golf, car racing, football, and puttering and fixing things around the house.

Special thanks from the family to Dr. Grassechi, and his nurse, Kay, and the caregivers at Peace Hospice of Great Falls.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Hillcrest Lawn chapel. Gravesdie services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

He requested that memorials be sent to The Shriners Hospital for Children Corporate Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; the Animal Foundation of Great Falls, P.O. Box 3426, Great Falls, MT, 59403-3426; and Peace Hospice, 2600 15th Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405.

Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.