Arthur A. Gabrielson

Arthur A. Gabrielson of Turlock, CA left for his heavenly home on Monday October 12, 2020, after reaching the age of 97 years old. He died peacefully at the Covenant Living Care Center of Turlock, where his son had been the head administrator for many years.

Art was born on June 27, 1923 in Anoka, Minnesota to James and Ida Knibbe Gabrielson. His mother died when he was two leaving his dad to care for himself and three older siblings as well. His father thought it best that Art be raised by his Aunt Ragna and Uncle Albert. So, Ragna and Albert Erickson became his surrogate parents, which proved to be a real blessing for him. He loved them and the farm life. They were fine Christian people and gave him the training and discipline he needed. He always considered them his parents and the farm near Buffalo, Minnesota his home. His first job on the farm was to feed chickens and gather eggs. His favorite thing to do when not working on the farm was going fishing, and this became a lifelong passion.

Art’s early education was at a one-room country school. He could read by age 4; his uncle taught him by reading the newspaper funnies to him. During school registration he found out for the first time that his last name was not Erickson, but Gabrielson. At 13, he left home and went to live with his dad near Brainerd. In his teens, Art worked for his dad at their resort on Gull River. It wasn’t the best time of his life, but he got to work with his brother a couple of years there. He had several other jobs as a young adult even during the great depression. He would spend Sunday afternoons bike riding and this exercise he would continue throughout life as well. He graduated Pillager High School at age 16.

In 1941, he met the love of his life, Ett (Ethelyn) Blad, at a birthday party for her sister, Marlys. She was from a family of five sisters and a brother, which was active at the same church his Ma and Pa Erickson attended. Art asked Ett to marry him three days before entering military service.

He was inducted into service in March of 1943 at Fort Snelling and eventually became part of the Army Air Corps Air-Sea Rescue Team until February 1946. While he was on leave in July 1945,

Art and Ett were married on the 10th. They were married for 51 years. When he got out of the service, Art and his brother, Jim, bought a gas station in Buffalo. After two years they sold the station and Art & Ett bought a hardware store in Durand, Wisconsin. They had the store 3 years until Ett could no longer handle the cold winters.

While living in Durand, all three of Art and Ett’s children were born. Their first son, Wayne, died in 1951 at age 4 months. Dwayne was born in 1953 and Lona in 1954.

They moved to Turlock, California in 1962. Art drove a trailer with their belongings and also the family dog and cat by himself across country. Ett’s job was at Allen’s Home Furnishings and Art worked for the same family managing a furniture store in Patterson for 8 years. After a fire destroyed that business, Art went to work for Bonander Pontiac-Buick until officially retiring in June 2008 at age 85. He loved selling cars!

Art loved to travel and they were able to visit Bermuda, cruise to Alaska, fly to Hawaii and London. During the summers of school years the family made trips back to the Midwest to see family & friends. Art like to take the family on short trips around California on Sunday afternoons often. He was an avid exerciser and completed 10 million lbs of resistance exercise at Covenant Village, over a period of 15 years. They had moved to Covenant Village in 1996. He really enjoyed playing pool with friends at the village. He could be seen riding 20-25 miles a day on his bike around Turlock into his 80’s. He enjoyed fishing with his daughter locally and also with his son, Dwayne, and family at Eagle Lake.

Art considered his life to be blessed in many ways. He was never out of work and the Lord provided him with meaningful jobs. After reviewing his life, he realized how blessed he was to have the Lord leading throughout his life. He was grateful to his aunt and uncle for being wonderful Christian people and giving him a solid foundation on which to build his life. He became a believer at Bible School at age 10. The Lord became more and more meaningful to him over the years. It was the strength he needed to carry him through watching his wife handle 8 rounds of cancer in 12 years. He served on various church boards, ushered, drove the church bus, etc., willing to serving in whatever way he could. When his health started failing, he moved into the Care Center in early 2018. His favorite saying for the nursing staff was “God Loves You….and so do I!” Psalm 118:24 has always been very meaningful to him. “This is the day that the Lord has made; I (we) will rejoice and be glad in it. Each day is a gift from God….praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Art was preceded in death by his wife, Ethelyn, in 1997, his son, Wayne, in 1951, and his son, Dwayne, in 2018. Preceded in death also by brother, Albert J Gabrielson, sister, Lillian G Agre, sister, Edith G Kuhlemeyer, all of Minnesota.

He is survived by his daughter, Lona Loudenslager (Craig) of Turlock, CA; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Gabrielson of Turlock; grandson, Chris Loudenslager (Britta) of Belgrade, Montana; grandson, Daniel Gabrielson (Bethany) of Oakland; grandson, Benjamin Gabrielson (Yazmine) of Rocklin; granddaughter, Kara DuVall (David) of College Station, Tx. He was so happy and proud to be G-Pa (great grandpa) to Casey, Justin, Sophie and Sloane.

A graveside service was held on Friday, October 16, 2020 at Turlock Memorial Park. Memorial gifts may be made to Covenant Living (Benevolent Fund) or Hope Church of Turlock.