Det. Joseph J. Gabriel's Obituary
Detective Joseph James Gabriel II, age 39, died Wednesday afternoon, March 4, 2015, at Hackley Hospital following surgery. Joe was born February 7, 1976 in Muskegon to Joseph J. and Debra Sue (Harris) Gabriel; and had been a life resident of the area. Joe was a graduate of Orchard View High School and of Lake Superior State University. He was employed as a Police Officer and Firefighter for the Coldwater Department of Public Safety for two years prior to joining the Muskegon County Sheriff Department, in 2000. Joe’s career with the Sheriff Department included Road Patrol, serving on the Emergency Response Team and his current assignment with its Detective Bureau. He also served on the West Michigan Enforcement Team. Joe was an active parent at Fruitport Schools, prior to recently relocating with his family to the Whitehall area. While in Fruitport he coached T-Ball, Youth Football and also served as a Boy Scout Leader. He was a member of F.O.P. Lodge #99. On August 23, 2003 he married the former Leslie Renae Boomer and she survives him along with their 3 children, Avery, Peyton and Morgen; his parents, Joe and Deb; 2 brothers, Adam (Sara) Gabriel of Muskegon and Matthew A. Gabriel of North Muskegon; his father and mother-in-law, Charles and Sandra Boomer; his 2 sister’s-in-law, Andrea (Mitchell Frees) Boomer and Erin (Tom) Trach; and his grandmother-in-law, Marilyn Schoulten, all of Muskegon; several nieces and nephews, Mason, Tyler, Drew, Dillon, Kaleab, Bayly, Alexandrea, Corbin, Clay, Maxwell and Raeya “JoJo”; special aunts and uncles, Diane and John King and Helen and Dave Mengel; close family friends, Amy & Jamie Ottinger and Rob Woods and by many, many extended family and law enforcement colleagues and friends. FUNERAL SERVICES will be held 11:00 AM Monday, March 9, 2015 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444 (231-798-1100) with Pastor Harvey Hertz officiating. Burial will be in Fruitland Twp. Cemetery, Whitehall, MI. VISITATION with Joe’s family will be 2-4 & 6-8PM Sunday, at the funeral home. For those planning an expression of sympathy, you are asked to consider Joe’s family, through the Muskegon Governmental Credit Union, Acct #11. You are also invited to sign the family’s Online Guest book @ www.sytsemafh.com
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