Obituary of Joseph Gabski

Josef Gabski was born in Dusselfdorf, Germany on August 9th, 1921 to Johann and Adelgunde Gabski. He passed away at his home in Chico on January 17th, 2010 at the age of 88. Joe attended school in Germany, and became an apprentice machinist in 1936. In 1940, at the age of 20, he was drafted into the German army and fought in WWII. He was captured in 1942 and remained in a British P.O.W. camp in Canada for five years. In 1947 he finally returned to Germany and began his work as a machinist. He married Maria Gievers in 1952 and his son, Hans, was born in 1953. In 1956 he moved his family to Chico and started work at Victor Industries and eventually retired from Peterson Tractor. Joe Gabski was a personable, honest, helpful and hard-working man. He was a long-time parishioner of Our Divine Savior Catholic Church and a loyal husband to his wife "Mia" of 56 years. He was a very devoted father and an adoring grandfather, never missing one of his grandson's baseball games or helping his granddaughter build an animal pen. He had an adventurous spirit and a contagious chuckle. Joe's smile was always welcome by his "buddies" around town, and he definitely got around! If he wasn't on a mission to get a part to fix something for someone, that was an odd day. And then again, you might find him working in his yard, or tending to his bonsai collection. Survivors include his wife Maria, son Hans (Stacey), grandson Karl and granddaughter Jillian. They and many, many others will truly miss him. There will be a Rosary recited at Brusie Funeral Home on Friday, January 22nd at 7 p.m. A mass will be said in his name at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church at the 5:00 p.m. services on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Notre Dame School.