Reginald Dennis (Gabby) Shoeman, treasure hunter, raconteur and all-around good guy died on Aug. 4, 2024 at age 82 at Mercy One Medical Center nini Des Moines, lowa, following a brief illness.
Reg was born to Gordon Cook and Mildred May (Merriam) Shoeman at Ft. Benning, Georgia on Dec. 5, 1941, two days before Pearl Harbor. He was the oldest of six children in a large, fun-loving German-American family. The majority of his growing up years were spent in and around Madrid, lowa, which, early on, cemented his love for the lowa prairie.
During the Vietnam conflict, Reg proudly served his country for 11 years on active duty in both the U.S. Air Force and Navy. While in the service, he acted as a helicopter co-pilot as well as an aviation electronics technician. He was honorably discharged from his military enlistment after suffering a career-ending injury.
At heart, Reg truly embodied the spirit of American individualism. He had a genuine passion for history, abandoned outhouses and old artifacts! Whenever possible, he would enthusiastically be researching, hunting and digging for buried treasure across the country — including an annual trip to Jefferson County. He just loved spending time in America’s ghost towns, covered in dirt, waist deep in the ground! He often shared with others his personal travel experiences on the website, “The Outhouse Patrol!” (Multiple videos set around Boulder are still available on YouTube.) Not surprisingly, after his many extensive excavation adventures, Reg always managed to find his way back to his beloved lowa roots.
It also must be mentioned that there was never Gab without a very cool Great Dane by his side. He had many large canine companions beside him throughout the years and he always was a devoted and loving dog dad!
Reg was one in a million. He was cordial, interesting and fun to be around. He always appreciated a good joke or story whether it was to hear or to tell. He loved his family and friends in a quiet, contemplative way and his family and friends loved him right back!
Reg was preceded in death by parents, nephew Bob Patterson, niece Anna Shoeman and brother-in-law Roger Peterson. He is survived by family who loved him very much: sisters Jan Peterson, Jeannie (Gary Paulson) Shoeman, Joan (Steve) Vial, Dorothy Futter and brothers Gordon (Janet) Shoeman and Robert (Cindy) Shoeman. He also leaves behind nieces Heidi Thornton, Noelle Purdy, Stacey McDonnell and Jessica Borror; nephews Stevie Patterson, Leigh and Darren Cooper; special someone Sally Magnuson and of course, his beloved Great Dane, Winston.
Our Gabby was a unique, smart and quirky guy who truly lived life on his own terms. He will be remembered fondly and missed deeply by those who knew him. Now that he is gone, we know that the world will, for sure, be a lot less enjoyable and interesting. We love you Reg. Rest now.
There will be no formal service for Reg but a celebration of his life will be held at a later date. His best friend and digging partner, James Campiglia, will spread his ashes in Boulder from an old ink bottle found in a Comet outhouse. Private interment services will be held at Hillsdale Cemetery in Madrid, lowa at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.desmoinescremation.com. In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial remembrances to the Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue (www.thegreatdanerescue.com).
