Gabriel M. Serrano

Blessed with deep dimples and a deeper laugh, Gabriel “Gabe” Serrano was capable of lighting up any room into which he walked. He was famously verbose (his mother frequently asked him if he ever got tired of talking), seemingly never met a stranger (his wife once asked him if they could go someplace where he didn’t know someone), and while he didn’t suffer fools gladly, those he chose to love were loved by him with a profound and abiding loyalty. For all these reasons and more, his family is saddened to announce that Gabriel M. Serrano, age 62, died in their company after a short illness on June 28, 2026 in Andover, Kansas.

Born December 12, 1963 to Philip and Amelia Serrano, Gabe grew up in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1982, where he was active in band, debate, and student council. He briefly attended Emporia State University and Washburn University before graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994 with a degree in anthropology.

Gabe wed Karen Rupp in 1990. In that same year he and Karen moved to Oklahoma, where they were both employed by the University of Oklahoma for 33 years. During his time at OU, Gabe worked for several different departments, including the museum of natural history, modern languages, and philosophy. In 1998 Gabe and Karen welcomed a son, Augustin Serrano.

In 2023 Gabe and Karen retired from the University of Oklahoma and returned home to Kansas, moving to Augusta in 2024.

Gabe is survived by his wife Karen, son Augustin, brother and sister David and Elizabeth, and father Philip. His brother Jimmy and mother Amelia preceded him in death.

A celebration of Gabe’s life will be held in the near future. As Gabe became a passionate bird watcher during his years in Oklahoma, those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to provide a donation in his memory to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.