John Richard Gabler

Published in the Kansas City Star on 2/9/2009

John Richard Gabler, 78, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at his home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,
February 11, at the Overland Park Lutheran Church; burial in the Monticello Union Cemetery, Shawnee, Kan.

Friends may call from 6- 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Memorial contributions may be made to Overland Park Lutheran Church, 7910 Lowell, Overland Park, KS 66204.

John was born October 2, 1930, in Kansas City, Mo., to Frederick and Dora (Knake) Gabler. He graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1949.

Following graduation, John was drafted by the New York Yankees. He retired from baseball and moved back to Kansas to work with his father and brother at Gabler's Nursery.

John was a member of Overland Park Lutheran Church, the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame in Wichita and the Nurseryman Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Frederick Gabler, Jr. Survivors include his wife, Shirley (Knowlton) Gabler; children and their spouses, Cynthia and Chip Anthony, Karen and Jeff Bowden, all of Overland Park, Kan., Johnna and Mitch Simmons, Overbrook, Kan., Fritz and Terri Gabler, Stilwell, Kan., and Patti and Bill Nigro, Overland Park, Kan.; sister-in- aw Charlotte Gabler, Overland Park, Kan., and 10 grandchildren, Jake, Ryan, Tyler, Connor, Kelsey, Samantha, Fritz Jr., Emily, Josie and Courtney.