Marcus Gabriel

Marcus Gabriel, age 90, of Hanover, Illinois, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2018 in Arizona. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2018 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hanover. Burial will take place in Evergreen Cemetery in Hanover. Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2018 prior to the service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Memorials may be given to the family in Marcus’ memory.

Marcus was born April 25, 1928, in Hillsview, South Dakota, the son of Frank and Veronica (Stoppler) Gabriel. On November 22, 1948, Marcus married Dorothy Grischkowsky. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Marcus worked as a truck driver and in mechanical maintenance until 1985. He also worked at the Savanna Army Depot for 37 years. Although he took an early retirement from the Depot in the spring of 1985, by no means was he officially retired as he became self-employed as an overall handyman and remodeled many homes in and around Hanover. His proudest remodeling project was converting the interior of a barn into a museum-like atmosphere. He was a member of the Savanna Moose and the Hanover VFW.

Marcus and Dorothy also had plenty of time to do what they enjoyed most—polka dancing. They spent many winter months staying with their son, Bob in Arizona and attended polka dances which were abundant in Arizona. As a husband, Marcus was very devoted and caring. After an automobile accident left Dorothy comatose for 19 months, he visited with her everyday for hours and cared for her as best as he could. She passed away on May 20, 1995.

After her death, he continued to spend winter months in Arizona and eventually resumed polka dancing where he met his second wife, Emily, who was from Canada, but also a winter snowbird. They were married in Saskatoon, SASK on April 26, 1997 and Marcus now had an extended family with Emily’s two daughters (Diane and Elaine) and two sons, (Gerry and Garry), their spouses, children, and grandchildren.

Marcus was very fortunate to have many good neighbors and friends in the village of Hanover who gave him support during a difficult time and shared his sorrows and joys. He will be missed here on earth, but know he will be welcomed by many others who have passed before him.

Marcus will be dearly missed by his wife Emily and her family; daughter Bonnie (Brad) Beyer of Stockton, Illinois; son Robert Gabriel of Apache Junction, Arizona; grandson Michael (Merri Lin) Foht; great grandchildren Hannah, Christopher, Michaela, Joshua, Katherine, Margaret, Annie and William; and one sister Tillie Roth of Lead, South Dakota. Marcus is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Veronica; sisters Christine Strobel, Liz Roesler and Ludvina Brandneert; brothers Joe, Karl, George and Tony; wife Dorothy; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Matthew Williams.