Alfred (Al) Francis Gawel, husband of 71 years to Dolores, nee Lawdenski, passed away after a series of illnesses with family at his side. Al was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 4,1927 to Frank and Victoria Sabarnia, both born in Poland. Al was the youngest of 5 children. He is predeceased by his brother William, who died in infancy, brother Theodore (Teddy) who was killed in action during WWII, and 3 sisters, Irene Starosciik (Bruno), Janet Cygan (Ray), and Frances Lycholat (Michael). Al and Dee’s eldest daughter, Karen, lost her battle to cancer in 1999. Al attended Tuley High School in Chicago and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business. Prior to his college career, he entered basic training in the US Army in 1947 and received an honorable discharge in 1949 after reaching the rank of Sergeant. Al had an early boyhood ambition to be a professional baseball player, and he diligently followed the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs as well as “Da Bears.” He worked as comptroller at the family-owned furniture store, L. Fish Furniture, based in the Midwest and was proud of becoming Vice President of the company before his retirement in 1989.
Al and his wife, Dolores, also known as Dee by her friends and Dolly by her family, were active members of their church, no matter where they lived - Des Plaines, Illinois, Tucson, Arizona, and Hernando, Mississippi. Al ran many successful events for the Knights of Columbus and provided hundreds of home-crafted items for sale in hospital auxiliary gift shops. He called countless bingo games for church friends and neighbors and was a regular ticket collector at Friday night church fish fries. Al and Dee also enjoyed traveling. They were fortunate to visit both Hawaii and Alaska as well as many of the US National Parks. Two highlights of their lives were traveling to Germany to be with their daughter, Karen, during the birth of their first grandson, Kevin, in 1975 and to NYC for the graduation of their granddaughter, Leslie from Cooper Union. For decades they were avid bowlers and with Dee and members of her Ladies League they traveled together to many tournaments around the country. Al loved being there to support Dee and keep score for the team. Along with Dee, Al is survived by their 3 children: Kristine Snoke (Gene), Ralph, and Gail Schrenk (Tom) to whom he passed on a strong work ethic and desire to give back to ones community. Al and Dee also have 3 grandchildren, one great grandson and many nieces and nephews around the country.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brantleyfuneral.com for the Gawel family.
