Thomas Keith Gabe

Thomas Keith Gabe, 70, of Evansville, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2020, at his home on the West Side of Evansville, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia.  He was born February 20, 1950 in Evansville to Keith Loren Gabe and Evelyn Dora (Schlaffer) Gabe.  Tom began his career at F. J. Reitz High School as a teacher and coach for four years. He was owner of Heritage Petroleum, (a merger of Gabe’s Oil and Wannemuehler Oil), and founded Sub Tech, an environmental cleanup company.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, and his grandparents, Frank Thomas Gabe, Giles Kelley and Mary Lou Brack Gabe Kelley, Michael Thomas and Matilda Huck Schlaffer.

Tom is survived by his wife of 44 years, Deborah Kay Wade Gabe, of Evansville and formerly from Princeton, IN, his son, Aaron Keith Gabe and daughter-in-law, Alea Faith Marshall Gabe, and grandsons, Marshall Keith Gabe, Barrett Thomas Gabe, and Emmett Huxley (Huck) Gabe all of Evansville.  Tom is also survived by his step-mother, Judith Rae Garrett Ermert Gabe, and his step-sister, Amy Ermert Shoulders  Phipps(Mike Phipps), and Andy (Kathy) Shoulders.  He is also survived by an Aunt, Jennie Miller Tooley Kelley (Paul).  Tom is survived by his brother Loren Ray (Cathy) Gabe, and sisters, Cinda Kay Gabe Lacer (Michael) and JoAnna Marie Gabe Stratman (Curt).  Tom had many cousins through the Kelley, Huck, Brack, Barrett, Becker and Gabe Lines, but was especially close to Dan (Karen) Muehlenbein of Carmel, IN, and his newly found Gabe cousins from Kentucky.  Many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.  

Tom attended F. J. Reitz High School, class of 1968, where he played football for Herman Byers.  He was also a graduate of Indiana University. Tom’s greatest passion was his family and friends, but especially his three grandsons. Another passion was cycling, including Leadville Mountain Bike races in Leadville, CO, Ride Across IN, the Evansville Bicycle Club, and riding with his friends, especially Randy Reisinger and Archie Carter.  A special thank you to Tyler Watkins, Leadville, CO, and Butch Moore, Evansville, IN, for their Buckles the summer of 2019 after Tom was diagnosed and could not ride.

Another passion for Tom was the many ministries he was involved in:  City Church, Overseas Council/United World Missions, I Am Second/For Evansville, Luis Palau Ministries, and The Steve Amerson Music Ministries.   Tom loved the many board members he knew from all over the country and the world, all of whom prayed earnestly for him during his battle with cancer. Tom’s goal in life was to tell as many people as possible about his Lord Jesus Christ, and everyone that knows him well will share that Tom had a gift of evangelism. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Mark and Jennifer Browning, all the staff and nurses, and chemo buddies at OHA, Dr. Lionel Kankeu Fonkau and all the staff and nurses at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Heritage Hospice of Evansville, and especially Tom’s sister, JoAnna, and Sherri Quinn who were literally angels on earth for Tom In his final days.  A special thank you also to Dr. Carol Ann Goodman and staff, and all the doctors who saw Tom and guided all the family along the way. The family thanks all the family, friends, Heritage Petroleum employees, church members and neighbors for all the prayers, texts, emails, meals, cards, caring bridge comments, visits and specials gifts. 

Because of COVID restrictions, a private funeral service for family only will be held at the home with Jeff Kinkade, the pastor and friend of the family, officiating.  Darrell Marshall, father of Alea Gabe, will sing.

Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mesker Park Drive.

A private Celebration of Life (invitation only) will be held at a later date.  The celebration will be live streamed and video taped for all those who want to be a part of the ceremony.  Jeff Kinkade will officiate, songs by Steve Amerson and Darrell Marshall, with talks shared by Howard Hubler, Indianapolis, Norm Miller, Dallas, TX.  The family apologizes that COVID has made these restrictions necessary and pray you understand. 

Memorial Contributions may be made to For Evansville, attention Ross Chapman, 1 Main Street, Suite 603,  Evansville, IN 47708 (www.forevansville.org ).  You may leave a message of sympathy or light a candle in memory of Tom at www.colvinfuneralhome.com.  Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gabe family.

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