Photo: Gibby Sagdalen in front of his prized ‘55 Buick last July at the Gibby Gathering car show and fundraiser.
Minnesota’s car culture took a big hit early June 21, when longtime Minnesota Street Rod Association member Gib Sagdalen, better known as Gibby, died in his sleep from what his family believes was a heart attack. He was 64.
Sagdalen, who was paralyzed from the waist down after complications from hip surgery in January 2008, received an outpouring of support from family and friends last July at a car show and fundraiser called the Gibby Gathering (see the story here). Local car club the Gasaholics, of which Sagdalen was a member, organized the event, which drew hundreds of people and raised $13,000.
Known for years as the go-to guy for springs, Sagdalen retired from Kremer Spring, Alignment and Body in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, several years ago. He spent much of his free time working on and driving his bright orange, 427-powered ‘55 Buick, a former MSRA Custom of the Year.
Using hand controls installed with his son a couple weeks ago, Sagdalen drove his car last weekend to the MSRA’s 36th annual Back to the ’50s show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. His wife, Sandy, said in an e-mail that he died peacefully in his sleep early in the morning June 21.
Visitation for Sagdalen is June 26 from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 920 Holley Ave., St. Paul Park. The service will immediately follow the visitation.
Attendees are asked to wear Gibby Gathering or Custom of the Year (from the year Sagdalen won) shirts if they have them. A procession to Fort Snelling will take place after the funeral, so those with street rods and customs are encouraged to drive them.
June 22nd, 2009 | Articles
All,
At thw 2010 Btt50’s, in a couple weeks, it will be nearly a year since we were able to see Gibby’s big smile. I for one miss him every day. He was just about ready to ditch the wheelchair before his untimely end of life. Being able to walk again was not expected by any of his doctors. Gibby worked hard to overcome his disability and darned near wrote a new book on rehabilitation. That was Gibby. A big smile and surprize of some sort at every meeting. We are all just lucky to have known this wonderful guy. Cruisin with the best now for sure!
Comment by Pete Emeott — June 10, 2010 @ 4:18 am