Pamela Elaine (Gabrielsen) Duvick

Pamela Elaine (Gabrielsen) Duvick was the first born of three children to Ed and Maxine Gabrielsen. She spent her childhood moving frequently with her family, making friends everywhere she went. She enjoyed sock-hops, American Bandstand, babysitting her brothers, Ronald and Brian Gabrielsen, and being the drum major in Plano’s Marching band. Shortly before her senior year of high school, they settled in Helmar, IL, where they ran the Helmar Store.

Helmar is where she met the love of her life, Ole Duvick. His quiet sense of sarcasm and common sense was the perfect compliment to her outgoing and goofy spunk. They moved to the farm, where he tried to turn her into a country girl, but her tractor privileges were revoked after driving the tractor straight into the side of the barn. Instead, she worked at CTS Knights in Plano, where she made many friends and was promoted to supervisor. She had three children, Kevin, Lynn, and Gina. Pam was always grateful for her family and friends at Helmar Church who helped care for the kids when she spent months with Kevin in Chicago for medical procedures for his heart. Along with raising her children, she enjoyed sewing outfits for herself and her family, throwing family reunions and hosting family from out of town, and volunteering at church.

In the 90s, Pam was offered the job opportunity of a lifetime - to quit the factory and become a full time nanny for her two grandkids, which over time became all six (Skyler, Tori, and Levi Hagen; Olivia, Tanner, and Kevin Kurtz). From 1998-2009, Pam also served as a stand-in grandma to anyone who needed her love at Lisbon Grade School. During this time, she bought treats from the concession stands for unfortunate kids who had already been told no by their parents, served as a room (grand)mother for parties and field trips, and gave rides to sporting events and Academic Bowl competitions in her iconic minivan. When babysitting all six kids at the Kurtz household, she would let the older five play in the pool while she watched “I Love Lucy” and played one on one with Kevin. The older kids may have snuck out into the pool a time or two without Grandma’s knowledge, thankfully all survived. With all six grandkids in school full-time, she began working in high school cafeterias, where she was called on regularly to help communicate with students with special needs who wouldn’t communicate with anyone else. Even into her grandkids’ high school years, she was known to drive them and their friends to fairs, the movies, host craft days at her duplex, or help them with Halloween costumes.

Although she lost her physical battle with Alzheimer’s, Pam never lost her positive attitude and was a favorite among her caregivers. Even when she was struggling to recognize people, she always knew Kevin’s smile, called Tanner handsome and asked if they were 7 feet tall. Above all, Pam will be remembered for her giving heart, her country line-dancing moves, knowledge of pop culture, fashion sense, and her devotion to her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Kaare “Edwin” and Maxine (Weidner) Gabrielsen, her husband Ole Duvick, her son Kevin Duvick, and her infant brother Gary Gabrielsen.

She is survived by her daughters Lynn (Ethan) Hagen and Gina (Jeff) Kurtz, grandchildren Skyler (fiancé Nadolie Stoll) Hagen, Tori Hagen, Levi (Leah) Hagen, Olivia Kurtz (daughter Italia), Tanner (fiancé Audrey Armstrong) Kurtz and Kevin Kurtz, brothers Ronald (Geraldine) Gabrielsen and Brian (Joan) Gabrielsen, sisters-in-law Myrtle Duvick and Judy Duvick, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at Helmar Lutheran Church with Donald Davidson officiating. Interment will follow in Helmar Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9:30 A.M. until time of service at the church.

Fruland Funeral Home, 121 W. Jefferson St. in Morris is in charge of arrangements. For more information call the funeral home at 815-942-0700 or sign the online guestbook at www.frulandfuneralhome.com .