Sara S. Gabrick

Sara Sue (Bork) Gabrick, 63, passed away on February 6, 2025, after a catastrophic cardiac event the week prior. She was surrounded by her family.

Sara was born on December 29, 1961, in Winona to Roman and Angeline Bork of Fountain City, Wis. She grew up on the family’s dairy farm as the ninth of 10 children. Sara married Michael “Shadow” Gabrick on October 12, 1985. Sara and Shadow were a team that took on high wheel bicycling, motorcycles, clowning, traveling, and were active in their communities on both sides of the river. 

Sara graduated from Cotter High School and the College of St Teresa where she obtained degrees in Nursing and Spanish. She earned her master’s in Nursing Administration from Winona State in 1991. Sara joined Winona Health in 1985. She started as a nurse’s assistant (CNA) and then a nurse, and quickly advanced to administrative and leadership positions, most recently serving as the Chief Operations Officer of Surgical, Specialty, and Retail Services. Sara served as Chairperson of Cotter Schools Board, she was an avid supporter of local businesses and health and emergency services in her community and was instrumental in making the first year of the Town of Buffalo Farmer’s Market a success. 

Sara gave with her entire heart. The phrase, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person,” was invented after someone experienced how Sara always kept her plate “thanksgiving full.” She made sure everyone else was taken care of by lending an ear, a hug, or a shoulder to cry on no matter how busy or full her schedule was. 

Sara cherished everyone in her life, but none as much as her children. Her son Cole, daughter Hannah and son-in-law Jordan were her world. She spoke to her children daily and supported them in their passions, wanting nothing more than their happiness. 

Sara was "mom" to multiple foreign exchange students she hosted in her home from Venezuela, Croatia, Russia, Czech Republic, and Japan. Sara was also the best aunt, cousin and sister to her large and loving family. Whether planning multi-day family reunions and kid’s camps or always being the first one you called when you needed help, Sara led the charge and gave of herself generously. Sara loved animals and kept many chickens, guinea hens, dogs, llamas, horses, and other pets throughout her life. She was a master at fabric crafts and quilting. Her excellent handiwork can be seen in the homes and hands of her family and friends; her love shines through each and every stitch. 

Her talent to weave thread was only outdone by her ability to weave a story. Sara could go through the most mundane activity and walk away with a tale that could keep you captive for days. Her story is one we shall all remember, her legacy and love will live on.

Sara is survived by her husband, Michael “Shadow” Gabrick, her siblings Linda (Richard) Kihslinger, Katherine (William Michael) Moore, Daniel (Kathy) Bork, Carol Bork, Mona Bork, Julie (Glenn) Krackow, Betsy Bork, and Kristine Beck, her children, Cole Gabrick and Hannah (Jordan) Klug, her aunt Sr. Virginia Pellowski, and her many cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

Sara was preceded in death by her parents, Roman and Angeline (Pellowski) Bork, her sister Dorothy Clare (Bork) Schoenfelder, her in-laws, Eugene and Helen Gabrick, and brothers-in-law James Gabrick, and James "Chinski" P. Losinski.

Visitation will be held from 1 PM until the funeral service at 4 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, 376 East Sarnia Street in Winona.

Sara chose to be a donor; we have been told that her eyes, and various tissues and bones will help up to 77 people in critical need of such special gifts. Her body will be cremated and her ashes will be buried/dispersed in a private ceremony in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to their GoFundMe fundraiser to support Winona Health Foundation by raising funds to provide CPR training for all staff at Winona Health. Donations can be made at this link: https://tinyurl.com/y6pwfky8.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Sara’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.