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Laurel Gacek

Laurel L. Gacek

November 4th, 1967 - January 29th, 2025

Laurel's Obituary

Laurel L. Gacek, 57, of Stevensville, passed away, Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.

A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Saron Lutheran Church, 510 Main St. St. Joseph, with Rev. Wayne Scherer officiating. Friends may visit with the Family from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations in Laurel’s name may be made to The OutCenter in Benton Harbor. Those wishing to sign Laurel’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Laurel was born November 4, 1967 in Buffalo, New York. Her family moved to South Bend, IN where she graduated from Clay High School, Class of 1986, and from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselear, IN, with a Bachelors Degree in education in 1990. After obtaining her bachelors, Laurel worked in South Bend schools for twelve years. On August 1, 1992, she married Matt Gacek in Valparaiso, IN., and continued to work until she started her family. After raising her children, Laurel went back to working with children at Mars Elementary in Berrien Springs. She served as a title one paraprofessional, and then went back to being a classroom teacher for the 2024-2025 school year.

Laurel was a member of Saron Lutheran Church where she was a member of the choir, the bell choir, the Reconcile in Christ group, and served as a reader. She played the violin in her earlier days and enjoyed all music, especially classical. In her free-time she enjoyed kayaking & boating during the summer months, rooting for the Buffalo Bills and especially the time spent with her family. Laurel was a warm and loving person who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Laurel is survived by her husband Matt; her children-Meredith Gacek & Grant Gacek, both of Stevensville; her parents-Thomas & Judith (Tober) Umbaugh of Bremen, IN; her sister and brother-Kimberly Snyder & Jason (Angie) Snyder, both of South Bend; her nieces-Alexa Snyder of Chicago & Ellie Snyder of South Bend; father-in-law & mother-in-law Bruno & Barbara Gacek of LaGrange Park, IL; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law Bruno (Lisa) Gacek of West Aurora, IL, Michael (Nancy) Gacek of Western Springs, IL, Lori (Bruce) Hardy of Graniteville, SC, and several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister-in law Lynn Waszak.

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