Glen L. Gabel

Glen L. Gabel Sr., 95, of Rockford, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love and free from pain, on February 1, 2026. He was born on June 19, 1930, to Louis and Edna (Adams) Gabel. Glen graduated from Hononegah High School and attended classes at Rockford College. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952. On October 4, 1949, he married his grade school sweetheart, Jean Elaine Cummings, in the chapel at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Glen worked for 23 years at Woodward Governor, retiring in 1989.

He was deeply committed to his community, serving as President of the Roscoe Improvement Association, as a Village Board member, and as a trustee of the Harlem–Roscoe Fire Department from 1986 to 2002. He also served as Chair of the Pastor-Parish Committee at Roscoe United Methodist Church during the time of Pastor Kempton Hewitt. An avid outdoorsman, Glen enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing tennis well into his late 80s. He rarely missed high school football and basketball games, often attending with his friend Dick Fisher. For 50 years, he shared fishing trips to the Boundary Waters with his longtime friend Tom Glenny. He also took great pride in helping his friend Dick Brown build his boat. Glen valued friendship, loyalty, and time spent outdoors, creating memories that will be treasured by many.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Jean Elaine; children, Glenn II, Lee (JoAnn), and Brad (Rita); half-siblings, Gary Gabel, Connie (Andy) Virnig, Steve Gabel, and Kathy (Jim) Milbrandt; grandchildren, Ben, Chris, Alison, Mark Gabel, and Tami Coldoron; and great-grandchildren, Benny, Lila, Quin, Camryn, Christian, Caden, Max, and Leo. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Nancy and Bonnie; brothers, Louis, David, and Roger; and half-brother, Jed Gabel. He was also preceded in death by his beloved dogs, Tina, Gabbi, and Candi, who are surely waiting and wondering why it took him so long to come home.

The family would like to express a special thank you to family, the HRFD, Mercy Health Hospice, and Assisting Hands.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 19, 2026, at Roscoe United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department or the  V Foundation for cancer research. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Glen L. Gabel, please visit our floral store.