Myron Daniel Gabbert, Jr.

Myron Daniel Gabbert Jr.

Our loving husband and dad Myron Dan Gabbert departed after eighty years on this earth on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. He died of heart failure at his home in New Meadows, Idaho.

Myron was born on Feb. 13, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois to Myron Gabbert, Sr. and Johanna Hess as the younger of two children. He attended Fenwick High school, Bradley University in Peoria, and completed his law degree at University of Illinois in 1967. He was admitted to the Illinois bar that year.

He met the love of his life, Elfriede Pramberger in New York at the age of 18 on a blind date. After three dates, they were engaged long distance and Dan wore out several cars driving between Illinois and New York. They were married in the Bronx on June 27, 1964 and moved to Champaign Urbana to finish their educations. They were blessed to celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary this past June.

Dan and Friede moved to Boise, Idaho in 1967 for his clerkship with the Idaho Supreme Court and afterwards he established himself as a formidable attorney, specializing in general, corporate, and business law. He was admitted to the Idaho Bar in 1968 and to practice before the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1972. He became a member of the Boise Estate Planning Council in 1972 and served as its president from 1980-1981. He became a partner at Moffat, Thomas, Barratt and Blanton law office and eventually moved on to private practice. In 1993, he and Friede moved to McCall where he opened a law office looking out on beautiful Payette Lake. He also served as Adams County Prosecutor for 13 years. Always interested in politics, Dan campaigned twice for Idaho Attorney General. He was an active member and former President of the Boise Kiwanis and received the Kiwanian of the Year award in both 1990-1991 and 1991-1992. His other awards include the Denise O’Donnell-Day Pro Bono award from the Idaho State Bar, along with recognition from the Idaho State Bar for his fifty years of service in the legal field. Among Dan’s numerous civic contributions were helping to form both the Boise Greenbelt and the Weiser River Trail systems.

Dan is remembered for a great many things, among them his love for Idaho. He loved maps and geography, and he was fascinated by the state’s topography and history. He took car trips to every remote corner and was notorious for stopping at roadside historical markers and reading them aloud to the groans of his family. He loved to travel, ski, golf, and hunt ducks, but always noted that the ducks felt pretty safe around him. A child of the 50s, he also loved fast cars and college football. He became an avid BSU fan, to his Vandal son’s chagrin. His stories are legendary. He had a prodigious memory for details of his childhood, of places and restaurants he’d visited, and how to get there years after the fact. He loved dogs and is remembered for his quirky sense of humor and his ability to laugh. When something struck his funnybone, he could erupt in uproarious, infectious laughter that filled the room. Finally, he is remembered for his fine generosity. He supported everyone he knew, and often made anonymous donations to charities or persons in need.

In the 2000s Dan and Friede became part of the family of Mountain Life Church where they found a spiritual home, loving support, life-long friends, and a relationship with the Lord. It was here that Dan was inspired with the idea of providing firewood for the winter to families who couldn’t get wood themselves and “Woodstock” was born. It has since become an annual community humanitarian event in McCall.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Tina Blechschmidt. He is survived by his beloved wife Elfriede Gabbert, and his children and their spouses: Lisa Gabbert and Bill Walsh, Laura Gabbert and Dean Stor, and Chris and Windy Gabbert. His grandchildren are Quinn and Bridget Walsh, and Christopher, Ava, and Harrison Gabbert. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and his dog Bandit. The family is extremely grateful for the care he received at St. Luke’s hospital of Boise in June and to the anonymous bystander who initially administered CPR. A special thanks to the countless people who supported the family these last months with encouragement, love, meals, and thousands of prayers.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 8, at 3:00 p.m. at Mountain Life Church in McCall. A potluck will follow; everyone is invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Woodstock, which Dan was so proud of. Designated donations can be made via Heartland Hunger and Resource Center or Mountain Life Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.