George M. Gabay
George M. Gabay passed on to Eternal Life June 7th, 2023, at the Hospice Home of Hope. He was born on January 31st, 1953, to George G. and Margaret (neé Tracy) Gabay in Milwaukee, WI. George is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ana “Lichi” (neé Cabrera) and children Elaine (Andrew) Steele, George J. Gabay, and Thomas Gabay, and granddaughter Anita. George is also survived by special friends who are like family: Alexandra, Infiniti, Khaleesi, and Eon.
He is further survived by siblings Dr. Elizabeth (Steve Liu) Gabay, Christine (Terry Hess) Gabay, Susan (the late Jim) Bowie, Cynthia (Jules Alexander) Juniper, Dr. Paula Gabay, Mary Gabay, Tracy (Dcn Paul) Arbanas, Dr. Mike (Michael Miller) Gabay, Amy Gabay, cousins Kathy (Ed) Wick and Terry (Kate) Tracy, and Lichi’s brothers and sisters. George has too many nephews and nieces, sobrinos y sobrinas to name, but he loved them all.
George grew up in Wind Lake, WI, in the home his father built next door to his paternal grandparents. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas School in Waterford and St. Mary’s Burlington High School, graduating from Muskego High School in 1971. From there he attended UW-Madison, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor in Business Administration. His stories of college were often of not only the classes he took and what he learned while attending, but also of the fun he had while a student. He may have ended up on “the wrong Dean’s List” a few times!
From there, he pivoted and joined the Peace Corps, completing two terms in the Dominican Republic. George often stated that everyone should have at least one adventure in their life, and the PC was his. By this point his parents had owned a dairy farm for a few years; thus, he was assigned to the middle of the country to help farmers improve their farms, especially with taking care of the cows. It was there he met Lichi, the daughter of one of those farmers. It wasn’t until several years later they became an item and engaged before he left for the U.S. They married September 26, 1981, in the Dominican Republic, honeymooning on the northern coast.
Back in the States, George pursued a career as a Correctional Officer. Though standing up for a coworker due to a racist and sexist incident lost him his job, he was able to successfully sue to be reinstated. He and Lichi started their family with Elaine in Green Bay, moving to the Fond du Lac area where they had George and then Thomas. He spent the rest of his life there, and became a (reluctant) member of the community as a Cub Scout Leader, Knight of Columbus, FdL Area Education System Parish Representative. He had a ham radio license (N9RWO), played the guitar, loved to sing (he was a rumored Irish tenor), was a voracious reader, and helped his mom with her fishing equipment company. He was forever tinkering with one thing or another, and had plenty of handyman skills from working in his father’s Tool and Dye shop while growing up. He was constantly learning. When he retired in 2008, he decided to pursue substitute teaching while being a stay-at-home dad for Thomas.
George was Grand Knight of his Council, and was a State Employee of the Year in 2008 after assisting in a hostage situation at Waupun Correctional Institute. A high school football player, he avidly followed the Packers, the Badgers, and the Brewers. He may have not accumulated accomplishments or accolades, but he especially delighted in his wife and children. We are his best legacy.
George was diagnosed first with Myasthenia Gravis with Parkinson’s following not long after. He spent most of his adult life battling one autoimmune condition after another, but the final two led to his demise. He was predeceased by his parents George and Margaret, in-laws Maria del Carmen and José Augustin Cabrera, brother-in-law Jim Bowie, and sister-in-law Carmen Cabrera.
We want to thank Visiting Angels, SSM Health at Home (especially Tracey), SSM Hospice at Home, and the Hospice Home of Hope for the care they provided George in his final years and months.
George’s visitation will be Thursday, June 15th, from 4-6 p.m. at Zacherl Funeral Home, Fond du Lac. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, June 16th at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, Fond du Lac. Reception to follow immediately. Private inurnment is scheduled for a later date. Memorial Masses in George’s name are requested.