Gabriele Doris Whipple (Snelling) was born August 24, 1950 in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Gabi passed away May 5, 2025 in Aurora, Colorado at the age of 74.
As a child, Gabi came to the United States in 1954 after her mother Hannelore Noll married Leonard Snelling of Yuma, Colorado. Leonard adopted Gabi and she eventually became big sister to Jim, Harry, and Diane.
Gabi attended schools in Yuma, where she participated in numerous activities including French Club.
On November 25, 1970 Gabi married David Whipple of Kirk, Colorado. Their children are Gregory, Shane and Jennifer Jo.
Gabi and David made their first home in Eaton, Colorado, where David worked and she kept the home. They made their way back to Yuma Colorado for a few years where Gabi worked as a lab technician at the Yuma hospital.
In 1974, she and David bought the family farm from his parents and moved south of Kirk. Keeping with family tradition, many of the “city cousins” would come and spend summers on the farm. Gabi kept all of them in-line as she shared the fun and challenges of country living. In 1981 they sold the farm and moved into Stratton Colorado.
While in Stratton she worked at various jobs, from the Golden Prairie Inn to clerking at the Stratton Sale barn. In the mid-1980s she also became co-owner of the Mode-O-Day store in Burlington, Colorado and had many successful years. The next business adventure for Gabi and David was the Waterin’ Hole Tavern back up in Yuma. There was an abundance of fond, hilarious memories and many friends at the Waterin’ Hole! Throughout all the years, some of her fondest memories were when she and David were working with Dick Engel on his Old West Auctions in numerous places around the country, most prominently in Amarillo, Texas and Cody, Wyoming.
Her most enjoyable and important job was keeping a great home. Gabi took great pride in being Mom to Greg and Jennifer, wife to David, and Grandma to Cody. She was an excellent cook and loved to try new recipes. No matter when you stopped by, she always had a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea waiting for you. And no one can forget the chocolate cake or other Num Nums that she was famous for, always keeping well stocked!!
She loved to do word puzzles, and to play board and card games. She quite often had her own set of rules for most of the games, many of which she learned from her Grandma Dora.
Throughout the years Gabi liked going to local high school sports to support and cheer on the kids. Gabi was a member of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Stratton, Colorado. Being “The Candy Lady” to the children at Church was always sure to bring joy and a smile to her face.
She also enjoyed traveling with David on his job. Together they traveled to most of the western United States making friends along the way.
Gabi is preceded in death by David, her husband of 50 years and her daughter Jennifer; her parents Leonard and Hannelore Snelling; parents-in-law Forrest and Regina Whipple; brother Jim Snelling; nephews Loyd Whipple and Grant Winslow; nieces Rachel Oldham and Crystal Ford; brothers-in-law Dennis Oldham, Clifford Whipple, and Wayne Armbrister; sisters-in-law Kim Armbrister and Judy Hadly.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son Greg Whipple (Gisele Waters) of Houston Texas and her grandson Cody Whipple of Dallas Texas, remaining siblings, in-laws and their spouses, nieces, nephews, extended family, and a multitude of dear friends.
She will be deeply missed by everyone that knew her. May She Rest In Peace.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May, 16, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the St. Charles of Borromeo Catholic Church in Stratton with a Parish Rosary to be held at 7:00 PM.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM with Father Carlos Gallardo and Deacon Norbert Ohnmacht officiating. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Stratton.
Memorial contributions may be made out to the Ronald McDonald House and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.