Martin Gabel, Luv-A-Pet Founder & Owner 1947-2013
Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 | Uncategorized | No Comments
By Tom Irmen
I remember the pastor of my church outside of Chicago telling all of us in attendance at a mid-week service to “get over it” – that life is terminal. He wasn’t suggesting that we shouldn’t mourn the loss of a friend or loved one, but rather come to expect life’s certainties, and one of those is death.
I don’t know how many of you knew Martin Gabel, the owner of Luv-A-Pet in Madisonville. If you were a dog lover like Martin, you probably did. If you knew Martin, then you likely know that we’ve lost a close friend who many of you may not know battled colon cancer for several years. Martin kept this area of his life private from many, and if you knew him like I did, you might be surprised to know just how ill Martin was. Rather than dampen people’s spirits, he chose to brighten others with his sense of humor and warm smile.
Martin was devoted to his wife, Sandy, both of whom shared a common passion in breeding and showing dogs. Martin, a Vietnam veteran, was proud of his military service and often shared stories with me during our visits. I looked forward to the time I spent with Martin. I had always hoped to offer him encouragement, but somehow, as only Martin could, he provided me with even greater encouragement than I could ever hope to offer him. We’re grateful for the extraordinary example he set for all of us – to cherish life, taking nothing for granted.
But Martin asked that we not mourn his passing, and in true Martin-ish form, Sandy and her team, honoring Martin’s request, will keep Luv-A-Pet operating as normal, including grooming services offered by Sheila.
“We both love dogs,” said Sandy. “Martin devoted most of his life to them and helping dog owners understand the importance of proper nutrition.”
Luv-A-Pet will continue to provide area dog lovers with only the most nutritious and healthy pet foods, supplements, pet accessories, grooming, and expert advice that Martin was so well known and respected for. Sandy, Sheila, and their team look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Luv-A-Pet.
Luv-A-Pet
2355 Highway 411 in Madisonville
(423) 442-7277
