Donovan “Don” Arthur Gabbei

POYNETTTE -- Donovan “Don” Arthur Gabbei, age 91, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at the Wm. S. Middleton Veterans Hospital in Madison.
Don was born in Poynette, WI on October 22nd 1932. He was the son of Arthur & Lillian Rabe Gabbei (deceased). Don attended Poynette School and graduated in 1951. He enlisted in the United States Navy to serve in the Korean War, on the USS Naifeh Destroyer Escort 352.

Don married his first wife, Grace Miller on September 23rd 1953 and had one daughter, Julie. Don would marry again, to Shirley Thiessen on February 10th 1961 and together including Julie, they raised seven children and several foster kids. Don enjoyed spending his free time with all of his children. Some of his activities with his kids consisted of fishing, swimming, camping, horseback riding, and playing the card game euchre. Don enjoyed tinkering in his garage by building and fixing up cars. He also actually enjoyed mowing his lawn.  Don had worked for 25 years at Ohio Medical in Madison.

Don leaves behind his children; Julie McConochie (Stuart), Ron Gabbei (Julie), Donna Gabbei (Tom), Dawn Andaverde (Russ), John Gabbei (Sarah), Dian Pinney (Christian), and Shelley Gabbei (Joe);  his grandchildren; Spencer, Amanda, Angie, Jason, Clint, Joseph, Finn, Emily, Ethan, Dillan, Alex, Shania, Paris, Dominic, Samantha and Jennavieve, other relatives and many friends.  Preceded in Don’s passing are his parents Arthur and Lillian, his first wife Grace, his second wife Shirley, his sister Lorraine, his infant daughter Darlene and his son-in-law Mathew.

Funeral services will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Poynette.  Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery in Poynette, with Military Honors provided by Poynette Area Veterans Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Friday at the funeral home.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Poynette is assisting the family.