Gisela M. Reibel

On Monday December 15th, 2025, we lost our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and more, peacefully at the age of 86 years old. Gisela Maria Margarete Katharina (Fritsch) Reibel was born in Ludwigsdorf Germany until her family emigrated to west Germany around 1946 after her village was invaded by Russian occupants. Living for a few years in the refugee camp, her family finally settled in Ramstein. In happier times in 1962 she became the Karneval Verein Bruchkatze Princess in Ramstein, guardian of the tradition of the 5th season with cheerfulness, splendor and heart full of cheerfulness, regent over guilders and ducats and ruler of the Green-White Guards.

As a young woman she worked as a civilian on the US Airforce base in Ramstein where she met and married Peter R Reibel in 1964, who brought her home to Indianapolis, Indiana. Here she built her family with three children, Karin D Dillon (sp. David), Kris P Reibel, and Lara E Cooney (sp. Steve). While married she worked as a dental assistant to her husband’s dental practice. Once divorced in 1976, she artistically created macrame & jewelry to sell at art fairs, such as Penrod, while working several jobs to support her children. A close friend, Christel De Haan offered her a job at their new company RCI – Resort Condominiums International, where she became Director of Distribution. During this period, she worked full time while pursuing a college degree at IUPUI. She earned her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and continued taking courses until just a couple of credits shy of earning a Bachelors degree. All the while she volunteered with her children’s school PTA, Cub Scout Master, and Girls Scout Leader. Once her children married, she became a Master Gardener and involved herself with volunteerism and several social clubs including Marion County Master Gardener Association, INPAW – Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, Shamrock Garden Club, The Garden Club of Indiana, The National Garden Clubs, Inc., Riley Home Gardeners in Greenfield, IN, Hancock Herb Society in Greenfield, IN, The Herb Society of Central Indiana, The Indianapolis Rose Society, The Indianapolis Bonsai Club, Fall Creek Garden Club, Indiana Historical Society and The Indianapolis Antique Club and the Indiana German Heritage Society. Additionally, she found time to participate as a Member of the Board for the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra from 1990 – 1996.

In her own words her hobbies were her grandchildren, gardening, and reading. Once retired she held memberships to Newfields (IMA – Indiana Museum of Art), the Children’s Museum and the Indianapolis Zoo to entertain the grandchildren and spent numerous hours in their presence. For her grandchildren she attended school orchestra performances, sports games, scouting derby s and court of honors, horse shows and more. She shared her cozy cabin near Nashville Indiana with the family, instilling a love of nature, hiking and exploring. Her garden was an Eden at home that she tended to daily and won awards for flower arrangements and displays at the Indiana State Fair. Over the years she traveled to Europe, across Indiana and the United States. Never did she pause at the idea of driving across the country to visit her sister Rene, in Oregon, stopping along the way to multiple National Parks, trips to Germany to spend time with her younger sister Susi or to then drive to France to visit her brother Eberhard and his handcrafted replica bi-winged planes in the Paris Air Show. Her sense of fearlessness, exploration and adventure were ingrained in her, and she lived life to the fullest.

Leaving her legacy behind to her grandchildren, Isabell Dillon (sp. Arianna), Vallory Dillon, Alex Reibel, Luke Reibel, Jake Reibel (dec’d), Sebastian Cooney (sp. Lauren), Orion Cooney, Katharina Cooney, and nieces/nephews, Bob Jones (sp. Theresa), Gretchen Rose (sp. Bobby), Mike Jones (sp. Maggie), Roland Kappler (sp. Petra), Bettina Rillman, Ralf Kappler (sp. Rosetta), Susie Gerow (sp. Steve), and great nieces/nephews, Eric Gerow, Andy Gerow, Elizabeth Pugh, Emily Pugh, and brother-in-law Don Reibel (sp. Judy) along with the families residing in North Carolina.

Our mother, the fearless leader, may you rest in peace.

A visitation will be held in her honor at 12-2pm December 22,2025, the service will follow at 2pm, all will take place at Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park East Funeral Center. She will be laid to rest in Washington Park East Cemetery.