Edward Gabe Walter Gabriel

Edward W. Gabriel ( age91) WWII US Army Veteran

Beloved husband of Rina (nee: Battocchio) for 50 years. Loving father of Edward Jr., Donna, Frank (Melissa), and Bill (Lisa). Proud grandfather of 11, Dennis, Kevin ,Rick, Tara, Edward, Donald, Lisa, Jerry, Matt, Frank and Ryan, great-grandfather of 18, Geno, Zoey, Eddie, Owen, Kiya, Jerry Jr., Giovanni, Natalia, Lorenzo, Angelo, Nathan, Daylyn, Labella, Jay, Emily, Ashley, Jeanie, Vincent, great- great grandfather of 1 Aiden. Cherished uncle to many and a friend to all. Visitation: 3pm -8pm Sunday February28, 2016 at Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home and Cemetery 11333 S. Central Ave. Oak Lawn, Il 60453. Funeral Chapel Service 10am Monday, Interment to follow. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Ed’s honor to The Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 or www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Info: 708-636-1200 or www.chapelhillgardenssouth.com

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Edward W Gabriel

Born: October 4, 1924 Chicago, Illinois

Died: February 24, 2016 Chicago, Illinois

He is survived by his wife of 50 years Rina, 4 children: Edward JR, Donna, Frank and Bill,

11 Grand children: Dennis, Kevin, Rick Tara, Edward, Donald, Lisa, Jerry, Matt, Frank and Ryan. 18 Great grand children: Geno, Zoey, Eddie, Owen, Kiya, Jerry Jr, Giovanni, Natalia, Lorenzo, Angelo, Nathan, Daylyn, Labella, Jay, Emily, Ashley, Jeanie, and Vincent. and 1 great great grandchild: Aiden. His brothers Frank, Bill, and Harry and sister Elsie preceded him in death.

He was a Corporal in the US Army during World War II, circling the globe and spending most of his time in the pacific theatre in China. He was a very proud veteran and loved telling stories from the War. He wore his World War 2 veteran hat around most of the time during his senior years.

He worked on the Railroad as a mechanic after he got out of the army. He then worked as a truck driver at Amoco until his retirement in 1984. He had lots of stories about work, which we heard over and over. I guess he just loved to tell them. He was always a good driver, and was always driving someone somewhere. He was still an aggressive driver even in his senior years and was always a quintessential backseat driver.

He was very family oriented, and loved his family dearly. He was always telling everyone, even strangers or new acquaintances about them. He was proud of his brothers, children, and grand children. He spoke daily to his brothers in town and called his brother Harry in Oregon every week.

As a kid he would take us out on his boat before going to work. Always generous, and was always giving money to kids and grandkids. A friend of the family (Mick) told how his generosity affected him.

He was always active until he turned 87. That is when arthritis slowed him down. He snow skied and water skied until he was 86 years old. We always enjoyed the way he water skied. Anyone who knew him would try to imitate his unique style and we all would laugh because we knew that they would be imitating him.

He kept in good shape by keeping active and playing with grandkids.

He did not seem very handy but was good with duct tape and I suspect that this was on purpose because he had been a mechanic on the railroad. Even in old age he could tell the size of a screw or nut just by looking at it. He had excellent jury rigging skills. He liked to do what he called "putting around" which was working around in the garage. He liked good deals, we remember kidding him that he followed the blue light around in Kmart.

He also loved a good joke and would begin laughing while telling it and would botch up the punch line most of the time. He was definitely better to laugh with then hear tell the joke.

Most of all he was the best father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather anyone could ask for. He was a loving man that would forgive anyone and give them another chance. He was loved by everyone that met him.

God Bless