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Gabriel Martin “Gabe” Rygaard

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Gabriel Martin “Gabe” Rygaard

Birth
Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, USA
Death
16 Sep 2016 (aged 45)
Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, USA
Burial
Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, USA Add to Map
Plot
Garden of John
Memorial ID
View Source
Gabe Rygaard, was a star of the History Channel reality TV series Ax Men, which chronicled the ups and downs of the logging business. He was also a one-time candidate for Clallam county commissioner in Washington state. Was the owner-operator of Rygaard Logging Inc., Ryfield Properties Inc., and other local businesses in partnership with his family, whom also appeared in Ax Men. Rygaard first appeared in the second season of Ax Men, having recently taken over Rygaard Logging from his father, who founded the company in 1992. The company was frequently featured on the show, including during the recently completed ninth season.
Gabe Rygaard

Gabe Rygaard, who formerly starred on the reality TV show “Ax Men,” died Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in a motor vehicle crash near Port Angeles, Washington, according to multiple news sources. He was 44.

The three-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. Highway 101. The State Patrol report stated that Rygaard was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Peninsula Daily News. There were no other fatalities.

Rygaard and his family owned and operated Rygaard Logging. He was featured on seasons two through nine of the History Channel’s “Ax Men.” The show documented the methods of logging crews in several states, highlighting the dangerous situations the loggers encountered on the job. The series was canceled in 2015.

He ran in the recent Republican Party primary for Clallam County commissioner but did not secure the nomination.

Rygaard is survived by his wife, Katy, and three children.

Bio from the Peninsula Daily News.

Television Personality, Businessman.
Gabe Rygaard was one of the stars of the reality television series "Ax Men" which ran for nine seasons on the History channel. In addition to his role on the series, Mr. Rygaard served as president of Rygaard Logging Inc., a timber company started in 1991 by his father. He and his wife owned and operated the Port Angeles based timber brokerage company, Ryfield Properties Inc. as well as the Penny Creek Quarry in Jefferson County, Washington. In August of 2016, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary election for the position of commissioner for Clallam County's second district. He was killed in a three vehicle accident which occurred on Highway 101, west of his hometown of Port Angeles, Washington. He is survived by his wife and three children.


Gabriel Rygaard was born on August 3, 1971. He passed to eternity on September 16, 2016.



Gabriel Martin Rygaard was born in Port Angeles to Craig and Kathy Rygaard. He graduated from Port Angeles High School and Peninsula College.



Gabe owned and operated Rygaard Logging. He also owned Timber Brokerage, Ryfield Properties and Penny Creek Rock Quarry. Gabe worked on the TV series “America’s Toughest Jobs” and “Ax Men” with his father, brother, and sons.



Gabe had a huge heart and a zest for life. He was a man of faith who put God first. No challenge was too big for Gabe and he had a can-do attitude. Gabe was generous. He was civic-minded and had a passion for helping his community.



He was a member of many civic organizations and clubs including: King’s Way Church, PA Cal Ripken Baseball, Future Riders Football, Olympic Crosscutter Baseball, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, EDC, PABA, WCLA, PA Chamber of Commerce, and Washington Loggers Association.



Gabe loved fishing, hunting, and camping with his family. He played the saxophone. Gabe loved vacationing in Hawaii with family, boating at Lake Sutherland and snowboarding at Lake Tahoe. He enjoyed helping with church projects. He was a passionate coach of youth football and baseball; and he enjoyed playing community baseball. Gabe was an avid Seahawks fan.



He is survived by his wife, Katy Rygaard, daughter Trilby Bowe, sons Tucker Rygaard, and Aiden Rygaard, his parents Craig and Kathy Rygaard, his grandmother Ann Dewey, his brother Jason (Adrianne) Rygaard, his brothers-in-Law Eric (Susan) Sotebeer, Craig (Maria) Sotebeer, Brian (Cheryl) Sotebeer, his sisters-in-law Joelle (John) Heikkila, Beth (Dave) Hoien, his parents-in-law Carolynn & Earle Irvine, and Steve & Elaine Sotebeer, and many nieces and nephews.



There will be a Celebration of Life at The King’s Way Foursquare Church 1023 Kitchen-Dick Rd, Sequim, WA 98382 on Saturday, September 24th at 11:00 am.
Gabe Rygaard, was a star of the History Channel reality TV series Ax Men, which chronicled the ups and downs of the logging business. He was also a one-time candidate for Clallam county commissioner in Washington state. Was the owner-operator of Rygaard Logging Inc., Ryfield Properties Inc., and other local businesses in partnership with his family, whom also appeared in Ax Men. Rygaard first appeared in the second season of Ax Men, having recently taken over Rygaard Logging from his father, who founded the company in 1992. The company was frequently featured on the show, including during the recently completed ninth season.
Gabe Rygaard

Gabe Rygaard, who formerly starred on the reality TV show “Ax Men,” died Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in a motor vehicle crash near Port Angeles, Washington, according to multiple news sources. He was 44.

The three-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. Highway 101. The State Patrol report stated that Rygaard was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Peninsula Daily News. There were no other fatalities.

Rygaard and his family owned and operated Rygaard Logging. He was featured on seasons two through nine of the History Channel’s “Ax Men.” The show documented the methods of logging crews in several states, highlighting the dangerous situations the loggers encountered on the job. The series was canceled in 2015.

He ran in the recent Republican Party primary for Clallam County commissioner but did not secure the nomination.

Rygaard is survived by his wife, Katy, and three children.

Bio from the Peninsula Daily News.

Television Personality, Businessman.
Gabe Rygaard was one of the stars of the reality television series "Ax Men" which ran for nine seasons on the History channel. In addition to his role on the series, Mr. Rygaard served as president of Rygaard Logging Inc., a timber company started in 1991 by his father. He and his wife owned and operated the Port Angeles based timber brokerage company, Ryfield Properties Inc. as well as the Penny Creek Quarry in Jefferson County, Washington. In August of 2016, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary election for the position of commissioner for Clallam County's second district. He was killed in a three vehicle accident which occurred on Highway 101, west of his hometown of Port Angeles, Washington. He is survived by his wife and three children.


Gabriel Rygaard was born on August 3, 1971. He passed to eternity on September 16, 2016.



Gabriel Martin Rygaard was born in Port Angeles to Craig and Kathy Rygaard. He graduated from Port Angeles High School and Peninsula College.



Gabe owned and operated Rygaard Logging. He also owned Timber Brokerage, Ryfield Properties and Penny Creek Rock Quarry. Gabe worked on the TV series “America’s Toughest Jobs” and “Ax Men” with his father, brother, and sons.



Gabe had a huge heart and a zest for life. He was a man of faith who put God first. No challenge was too big for Gabe and he had a can-do attitude. Gabe was generous. He was civic-minded and had a passion for helping his community.



He was a member of many civic organizations and clubs including: King’s Way Church, PA Cal Ripken Baseball, Future Riders Football, Olympic Crosscutter Baseball, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, EDC, PABA, WCLA, PA Chamber of Commerce, and Washington Loggers Association.



Gabe loved fishing, hunting, and camping with his family. He played the saxophone. Gabe loved vacationing in Hawaii with family, boating at Lake Sutherland and snowboarding at Lake Tahoe. He enjoyed helping with church projects. He was a passionate coach of youth football and baseball; and he enjoyed playing community baseball. Gabe was an avid Seahawks fan.



He is survived by his wife, Katy Rygaard, daughter Trilby Bowe, sons Tucker Rygaard, and Aiden Rygaard, his parents Craig and Kathy Rygaard, his grandmother Ann Dewey, his brother Jason (Adrianne) Rygaard, his brothers-in-Law Eric (Susan) Sotebeer, Craig (Maria) Sotebeer, Brian (Cheryl) Sotebeer, his sisters-in-law Joelle (John) Heikkila, Beth (Dave) Hoien, his parents-in-law Carolynn & Earle Irvine, and Steve & Elaine Sotebeer, and many nieces and nephews.



There will be a Celebration of Life at The King’s Way Foursquare Church 1023 Kitchen-Dick Rd, Sequim, WA 98382 on Saturday, September 24th at 11:00 am.

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