Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs resident Louis George Gabos died Nov. 6, 2005, at his home. He was 65.

Louis was born Aug. 12, 1940, in Hazleton, Pa., to Lewis J. and Magdalen Marinko Gabos.

He attended school at the St. Joseph Memorial School and graduated from Hazleton High School in 1958. Louis joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and spent four years with the military, including doing a tour of Japan.

Lou came to Colorado to attend Adams State College in Alamosa while he worked at Montgomery Ward.

He later moved to Jefferson County to work with the mounted patrol of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office while he finished night school to become a road engineer.

Lou received his project-engineer certificate from the state of Colorado in 1984. His first job as a road engineer was to help build Interstate 70 out of Denver.

Lou moved to Steamboat Springs in late 1985 to work with the Routt County Road and Bridge Department in 1986, where he had worked since. Lou's current boss, Paul Draper, said, "The way he went about his job was of the highest professionalism. He was always there. I used to have to force him to take a vacation."

Lou was a very devout Catholic and rarely missed services at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Steamboat. His other interest was his involvement with the American Legion. He also was proud to be a Marine.

During the years, Lou became very involved with the National Rifle Association as a life member and with the local Routt County Rifle Club. He taught firearms safety to area 4-H members and other youths for more than 15 years. During the past eight years, he became very active with helping women learn firearm safety as part of the annual Women's Charity Shoot and the summer Women's Night on the Range. Many of these programs would not have continued without Lou and his constant caring.

Lou had a quirky sense of humor and loved telling engineer jokes. He was always worrying about others and not himself. He will be missed by friends, co-workers and students because he touched their lives in a very positive way.

Lou is survived by two sisters, Maureen and Anita, of Hazleton, Pa.; three nephews; and a great niece. Donations may be made to any of Lou's favorite charities, including the National Rifle Association Foundation, Holy Name Catholic Church, American Cancer Society, the VFW or any 4-H club.