Gabriel Dean "Gabe" Hadley

Gabriel “Gabe” Dean Hadley, 10, passed way at Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, IN, on August 31, 2011, following a courageous and hard fought 5 year battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. Gabriel’s visitation will be at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA, on Friday, September 2, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 3 at 10:00 a.m., at Heritage Assembly of God, 5051 Northeast 5th Street, Des Moines, IA. Burial will follow at Prairie Center Cemetery in Packwood, IA (corner of Hwy V63 and H17). The family will greet friends after the burial at Packwood Christian Church, 203 S. Church Street in Packwood, IA.

Gabriel was born on June 20, 2001, at Ottumwa Regional Hospital in Ottumwa, IA. He was the son of Douglas D. Hadley and Michelle R. Williams-Hadley. Gabriel was a member of Berean Assembly of God Church, and a student at Southeast Polk schools during his time spent in Pleasant Hill, IA. His family currently resides in Indiana and has been there since 2009. Gabriel loved to play with his sisters, brothers, cousins and friends, and was especially fond of “rough-housing” with his daddy, Doug; and going to movies with his mom, Michelle. He was a devoted Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Iowa Hawkeye, Iowa Stars and Southeast Polk Rams fan. He also followed many drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Gabriel also enjoyed spending time outside at Grandpa Carl and Grandma Sue’s farm in rural Iowa and visiting his Grandpa Doug and Nana in the Branson, MO, area.

Gabriel had the softest red hair and bright blue eyes. His infectious smile, energetic zest for life, fighting spirit and unwavering faith in God touched and inspired everyone that came in contact with him. Although the cancer at times made Gabriel appear frail, he possessed incredible strength, perseverance and an amazing ability to overcome incredible odds and physical challenges. Through his courage, he has taught all of us to treat each day as a gift from God and an opportunity to create lasting memories.

Gabriel was preceded in death by his father, Douglas D. Hadley, and his great-grandparents, William “Bill” and Thelma Hadley, Willard “Pood” Utterback, Henry and Nellie Salasberry, and Karl and Virginia Gibford. Survivors include his mother, Michelle R. Williams-Hadley; sisters, Alexandria and Faith Hadley; brothers, Luke and Blake Williams, all of Indiana; grandparents, Carl and Sue Hadley of Packwood, IA, Doug and Pat Gibford of Blue Eye, MO, Connie Dodge of Colorado; great-grandmother, Lora Utterback of Sigourney, IA; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print