Dorothy Ann (Katte) Gabrielse
January 21, 2012
Obituary
FITCHBURG-Dorothy Ann (Katte) Gabrielse, age 82, of Fitchburg, passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born on Aug. 25, 1929, the daughter of Harry and Alice (Eggebeen) Katte. Dorothy married George Gabrielse in 1949. Dorothy loved her Lord and followed hard after Him. Dorothy's journey in life was filled with examples of grace and love. She knew that her Redeemer loved her and that to follow hard after Christ did not mean that everything would be perfect, good and easy, but she did know that Jesus loved her as His own child. Her life was an example of living this promise out and Dorothy was willing to share that with all whom she came in contact with. She loved to share her love with others and was given the gift of hospitality making others feel comfortable and welcome in her home. Dorothy loved George, her husband of 63 years, her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses and great grandchildren. Dorothy taught us all so many things. Time was special to Dorothy and she invested much of it in her family. Most of her grandchildren first skied with their grandmother and all enjoyed trips to Colorado chasing her down the hill. She loved reading books and playing games with the grandkids during sleepovers, swimming in the family pool and enjoying many outdoor activities. Knitting was her favorite hobby and each grandchild and great-grandchild received a special gift made just for them. Mom, we love you and we will miss you. You have taught us so much about unconditional love and accepting others for who they are. You served quietly, but in a big way as you volunteered at the hospital, hospice and church. Grandma, you saw the best in us, encouraged us and made each of us feel special. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Dorothy is survived by her children, Tom (Diane) Gabrielse, Kaye (Mark) Oostdyk, Jack (Denise) Gabrielse, Bruce (Barbara) Gabrielse and Brian (Jennifer) Gabrielse; 16 grandchildren; 12 additional grandchildren by marriage; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce Opgenorth; brothers-in-law, John (Ella) Gabrielse, Kenneth Lubbers and LeRoy Ten Haken; and sisters-in-law, Evangeline Fikkert, Patricia Gabrielse and Edith (Preston) De Hamer. She was preceded in death by her husband, George on Sept. 26, 2011; parents; father and mother-in-law, Jacob and Dina Gabrielse; sister, Virginia Lubbers; brother, John Katte; brothers-in-law, LeRoy Ten Haken, Rev. Henry Fikkert, Lloyd Heinen, Ralph Opgenorth and Edwin Gabrielse; sisters-in-law, Gertrude Heinen and Beatrice Gabrielse. Funeral services will be held at BLACKHAWK CHURCH, 9620 Brader Way, Verona, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, with Pastor Chris Dolson presiding. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated for Rawhide Boys Ranch (Gabrielse Wood Shop Endowment), Abundant Life Christian School (Gabrielse Scholarship Fund) or Agrace HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg. Online condolences may be left at www.gundersonfh.com. A Psalm of David: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?'
Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday.
Funeral services will be held at BLACKHAWK CHURCH, 9620 Brader Way, Verona, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, with Pastor Chris Dolson presiding. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated for Rawhide Boys Ranch (Gabrielse Wood Shop Endowment), Abundant Life Christian School (Gabrielse Scholarship Fund) or Agrace HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg.
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Chris Brauns
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Dear Gabrielse Family,
I am one of the pastors who has been blessed by the Lake Geneva Pastor's Retreat. The yearly gathering that George and Dorothy helped make possible has been used to refresh my heart and soul on an annual basis.
The wonderful thing about George and Dorothy's generosity to pastors is that this also benefits through local congregations. Each year pastors go back to British Columbia, Texas, the Eastern Seaboard, Los Angeles, and many other places renewed by a time of study and fellowship.
George and Dorothy truly stored up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).
Love in Christ,
Pastor Chris Brauns
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Brian D Stewart
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I am a pastor in the Vancouver area and every year, for the last 10 years I have attended a preaching conference with Haddon Robinson at Lake Geneva. Dorothy and her husband, through their generous financial support, made it possible for many of us to attend. I thank God for Dorothy's faithfulness to our Lord. I pray for God's peace and comfort to her family and friends.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian Stewart
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Kevin McCreless
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Dorothy Ann (Katte) Gabrielse, such a blessing. I did not know the Gabreilse's personally, but was deeply touched by their generousity. I am part of the Lake Geneva Preaching conference each year of which they gave so graciously and generously. I will be forever grateful for their kindness. We are praying for the families and friends. May God bless you all rickly.
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Tom Anderst
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Dear Gabrielse family: I want to pass on to you my condolences in the passing of your mother. I met her a couple of years ago at the Gordon-Conwell preaching retreat at Geneva Bay where Pastor Chris also goes in May. I appreciated both your parents kind hearts and concern for God's Word to be proclaimed. I have benefited greatly from their vision and our people here in even cold Canada have also benefited. I praise God for your parents and pray God's blessing upon you as you mourn, celebrate their promotion and support each other. Sincerely, Tom Anderst
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Dean Shriver
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I am a pastor in Utah who, along with my church, has been blessed over and over again by George and Dorothy's generosity in supporting the annual preaching seminar at Lake Geneva. The extent to which God has used them--and the lives they have touched--will not be known by us until we're all together at the throne.