Barbola Funeral Chapel

Loyal Gake

Loyal Gake, age 69, of Neshkoro, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on October 23rd, after a brief battle with a bone marrow disorder.

Loyal was born on September 5, 1947 in Waukesha, Wisconsin to Edward and Muriel (Garoutte) Gake. Loyal grew up in Waukesha and graduated from Waukesha South High School in 1965. He attended UW Whitewater and received a bachelor’s degree in Math and Physics in January 1971, after which he worked for the Engineering Department in Oshkosh where he led a work crew that did surveying and planning for municipal road and sewer projects.

In 1975 Loyal earned a degree in civil engineering from Marquette University. Loyal worked as the Winnebago County Engineer from 1976 to 1979. In 1980 he accepted a position as a research associate with the University of Minnesota’s world-renowned St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. After earning his master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on water resources, Loyal worked as the director of Development and Regulatory Compliance for a hydropower company.

In 1982, Loyal married his sweetheart and the love of his life, Deborah Mark. They enjoyed many years together pursuing common interests, riding their bicycles around the rural roads of Wisconsin, working out, and cross country skiing.

Loyal was very athletic, and in addition to playing many sports, he enjoyed coaching T-ball, Little League baseball, and youth basketball teams. Loyal also mentored grade school children and volunteered annually as a counselor at a youth camp for burned children. He was passionate about education.

Loyal was a kind and generous man. All who knew and loved him admired his warm and deprecating sense of humor and his gentle wit.

Loyal will be missed by his family and many friends, including his wife, Deborah Gake, his father, Edward Gake, his brothers, Louis Gake, Leland Gake, Edward James Gake, Robert (Debra Dahlke) Gake, his sisters Elizabeth (Gerald) Opps, and Susan (Rich) Barricelli, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Muriel.

A private memorial service is planned for November 6, 2016. In lieu of flowers, please support a local educational cause of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel of Berlin.