Walter C. Gabbert

Walter Charles Gabbert was born in Holyrood, Kansas, to Paul and Margaret Gabbert on June 9, 1929, the ninth of eleven children. The family of seven boys and four girls moved to Colorado in the mid 1930's, where they faced many challenges, including the early death of their father, Paul, in 1946.

After graduating from South High School in 1948, Walt met and married Anna Mae Tarantino, the two connecting while they were employed at Package Delivery. They were married on September 4, 1949 and were blessed with six children—Linda, David, Kathy, Mark, Lori, and Tammy. Walt joined the Denver Fire Depart in 1952, serving for 27 years before retiring in 1979. While on the department, he was instrumental in forming what became the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International.

Working very hard to provide for his family, Walt learned the trade of concrete finishing, forming G&C Construction with a fellow fire fighter. He continued this work beyond his career as a firefighter, employing his two sons and a son-in-law over the years.

Walt loved the outdoors—especially camping, fishing, and hunting. He built his own camper, with room enough for the entire family (well, almost… Dave had to sleep in the cab.) Trips to Glenwood Springs happened annually, and eventually his grown children and grandchildren began a tradition of family campouts every summer, which continued for many years.

Known for his competitive nature, Walt was a very good athlete and excelled at almost everything he tried-- from wrestling to elk hunting to ping pong to games of H-O-R-S-E… and even to a little bit of golf. He passed on that competitive spirit, as well as a love for the outdoors, to his family.

In 1971, Walt built a home for the family on Fenton Street in Lakewood, with a large garden and room for volleyball and basketball courts. This property (which included a large concrete picnic table which will endure for many generations!) became a gathering place for countless picnics and celebrations for the immediate and extended family he loved so very much.

All of the above—his loving dedication to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren—was increasingly rooted and supported by Walt's journey of faith. This dedication to God started to be strengthened around the age of 40, and included serving in a wide variety of positions in his churches, including Sunday School and Bible class teaching, church council, board of elders, and leading singing while playing his guitar. But by far his greatest passion was evangelism, a desire for reaching out to others with the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus.

Walt, whose life touched the lives of so many others, is survived by his six children, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Private family visitation and services will be held, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery.

A public celebration of life will be held at a later date.