Gabriel Matsu Hoglund, age 50, died March 25 at the Avantara long-term care center in Milbank, South Dakota.

Gabriel was born January 18, 1976, in Fargo to Willard L. Hoglund Jr. and Naomi Nakamoto.

He attended the Fargo Public Schools, earning his GED, and later studied culinary arts at Moorhead Technical College.

Gabe’s working years included food/restaurant service, but mostly retail - with the family business, Tochi Products Natural and Specialty Foods. Gabe was a beloved greeter to customers, and he was passionate about the work and the people they served. Gabe was famously well-versed in vitamins and supplements, often serving as a walking dictionary on the subject. The store was founded by Gabe’s father, Will, in 1971.

Family and community were extremely important to Gabe. He took great pride in raising his family in Fargo, and in the mark his family made on the community. He loved sharing stories of “how things used to be,” introducing his children to his old schools and favorite movies, and recreating trips with them that he had once taken with his own father. In his younger years, he enjoyed local music and frequently attended shows in downtown Fargo and Moorhead, with Ralph’s Corner being one of his favorite venues.

Gabriel enjoyed spending time with his children and family, as well as cooking. Gabe had a legendary love for spicy food, and he was always searching for the hottest sauce or pepper he could find.

A science fiction and fantasy enthusiast, Gabriel enjoyed reading books, graphic novels, and watching films with those themes. He was a frequent attendee at local science fiction-comic conventions.

Animals were naturally drawn to him, and he enjoyed feeding squirrels and befriending nearly every animal he encountered. Gabe was also known for his uncanny luck in card and dice games, especially Yahtzee - often rolling multiple Yahtzees in a single game and rarely losing.

Gabriel is survived by children, Tiffany and Alex (mother, Sara Campion); daughter, Genavieve (mother, Jennifer Galuska); daughter, Erin (mother, Bridget Murray); brother, Joe Hoglund and his daughter, Vivien; his mother, Naomi Nakamoto (stepfather, Terrance Adams); and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, “Will” Hoglund and his grandparents.

In recent years, Gabe was less visible and outgoing due to the progressive genetic disorder, myotonic muscular dystrophy. Gabe died from complications related to MD - which was undiagnosed for much of his life. Advancements in genetic science ultimately confirmed, after age 40, that he was very high on the MD spectrum with the associated muscle deterioration, among other conditions. MD has afflicted numerous Hoglund extended family members to varying degrees. Several of those relatives died relatively young - including Gabe’s father, grandfather, aunt, and cousins.

It is hoped that increased awareness of MD will serve as a legacy to Gabe’s life. To learn more about MD, check the Muscular Dystrophy Association website. Those who would like to contribute to the worthy non-profit as a memorial to Gabe, the family suggests a direct contribution to MDA through the organization’s website.

A private celebration of life is planned at a later date.

Although he is no longer suffering, Gabe is deeply missed by those who loved him most.

Handling funeral arrangements is Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo.

•Address: 215 7th Street South Fargo, ND 58103

• (701) 232-3222