Father Francis M. Gaber

Father Francis Marjan Gaber died Dec. 9, 2003, at the Lakeside Hospital in Pine City at the age of 85.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Dec. 12 with Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr as presider, Father John Sustarsic, homilist; Eugene Biever, deacon; and readers Robert Thiry and Ted Miller. Casketbearers were John Plasek, Jack Ouradnik, Dick Mikyska, Dave Mansavage, Pete Miller and Mike Carroll.

Interment was at St. Joseph's Calvary Cemetery in Beroun.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Swanson Funeral Chapel, Pine City.

Francis Gaber, born in Stara Loka, Slovenia on March 25, 1918, was the sixth of eight children born to Maria and Anton Gabor.

Anton owned and operated a tavern in Slovenia which employed many of Francis's siblings.
Francis, a sickly child, was sent at a young age to live in the city of Ljubljana with the Bishop Rozman. We can only assume that Bishop Rozman had a profound effect on shaping the character and man we know as Father Francis Gaber.

As communism slowly developed in the Baltic countries, it became more and more difficult for Raman Catholics to co-exist. In 1945, after hearing rumors of Catholics being persecuted, Francis Gaber left Slovenia and fled to Rome, Italy and eventually to Argentina. 1948 found Francis attending Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. being ordained in 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland was a Slovenian stronghold of the United State at that time.

Father Gaber's priestly career involved many parishes in the Duluth Diocese. Beroun, Minn. was his first and last parish and where he made many long-lasting friends and extended family.

1951 ñ St. Josephís, Beroun
1952-55 ñ St. Elizabethís, Duluth
1956-58 ñ Good Shepherd, Duluth
1959-60 ñ Floodwood-Warba (built church)
1961-64 ñ St. Josephís, Beroun
1965-66 ñ St. Lukes, Sandstone (built church)
1966-70 ñ Immaculate Conception, Pine City
1971 ñ Good Shepherd, Duluth
1972-78 ñ St. Joseph/St. Patrick, Beroun/ Hinckley
1979 ñ Rome, Italy
1980 - Hibbing;
1981-83 ñ U.S. Navy Chaplain;
1984-85 ñ Eveleth
1986-88 ñ St. Josephís, Beroun

Father Gaber was an open and inviting person. He made friends very easily and communicated well with people of all ages. He truly had a cross-generational group of friends who supported him and allowed him to remain independent well into his later years.

One of Father's friendships proved to be very valuable to the community of Beroun.

When the interstate highway was being built, it was Father Gaber who lobbied for an exit at Beroun. Through his friendship with Congressman John Blatnik this dream became a reality and will live on as a part of a legacy to Francis Gaber.

Surviving Father Francis Gaber is his brother Anton Gaber in Slovenia, nieces Marinka, Minka, Julka and Helena, all of Slovenia, several great-nieces and nephews, adopted family; the Eldon and Sandra Johnson family of Pine City.

Father Gaber was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Minka, Janel, Francka, Peter, Matevz, Joze, adopted grandson Corey Johnson.

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