Erin "Gabby" Gabathuler "had a heart of gold," her father, Lenis Gabathuler, told the News Tribune while he waited for the annual Guns 'N Hoses hockey match fundraiser to begin Saturday evening.
Erin, the Jefferson City Police Department communications supervisor, died suddenly Aug. 15 at the age of 39.
"All her life, she wanted to do stuff for people," Lenis Gabathuler said. "She wanted to help people. And she loved all people."
He added his daughter worked all the time on projects for the department and fundraising for issues that were important to her.
"I'll tell you what, when I was younger, I tried to keep up with her. You cannot do that," he said.
Her brother, Jason Gabathuler, said the outpouring of support for the family in the last week or so has been amazing.
"You can see how much she had her hands in everything -- helping people out as much as she could," he said. "She was a person who had presence. It's great to see how many people she's touched in her life."
More than 600 people attended the annual event, which raises money for SafetyNet, a nonprofit organization that supports families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The event included a St. Louis Blues jacket signed by coach Craig Berube, a jersey signed by Berube, a signed Nick Bolton rookie (No. 54) Kansas City Chiefs jersey, St. Louis Cardinals and Blues VIP ticket packages that included good seats and dinners, and a signed jersey from Blues center Robert Thomas.
Collier Nichols, a police officer and board member for JCMO Guns 'N Hoses, said the event is in its fourth year and teams have changed over the first years.
Four years ago, when the inaugural event occurred, several members of the teams could skate, but none of them could skate well enough to call themselves hockey players, he said.
The teams look different this year, he continued.
"Year one was a bunch of newborn calves," Nichols said. "Both teams had a few players who had grown up skating at different levels. Most of the guys out here tonight are two- or three-year skaters. And they're getting more competitive."
The match is a great community event, he added. He appreciates that both agencies allow their staffs to participate.
James Noah, a firefighter, said SafetyNet really began in Central Missouri and spread to Jefferson City, then other communities. The Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield areas each have first-responder hockey teams, Noah said.
"They have a bigger selection pool from us. We've got 72 firefighters to pick from, when they have several hundred," he said. "We're building this up."
Michael Vaught, a fire department captain, said he, too, has been involved for all four years.
He had experience when he started, he said:"Skating, yes. Ice hockey, no."
There was a learning curve.
Hockey is a great team-building exercise, Vaught said, but it wouldn't have been possible without Erin Gabathuler taking charge.
"Erin made this happen, and we're very thankful for that," he said. "This game is dedicated to her. I wish she was here to see it."
Members of the Jefferson City fire and police departments take to the ice in the 2022 Guns 'N Hoses hockey charity event. (Ken Barnes/News Tribnue)Ken Barnes
Members of Jeff City Fire and Police take to the ice in the annual Guns 'N Hoses hockey charity event. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune) 
JC Firefighter Matt Gauthier scores the first goal of the annual Guns 'N Hoses hockey charity game. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Members of Jeff City Fire and Police take to the ice in the annual Guns 'N Hoses hockey charity event. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
Members of Jeff City Fire and Police take to the ice in the annual Guns 'N Hoses hockey charity event. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)