William Gadol Jr.

William Norman Gadol, Jr., passed away from a long battle with heart disease on April 13, 2023. He is survived by the love of his life, Karen Lemacks Gadol; his three children: William Norman Gadol, III (spouse, Toni Gadol); Heather Jane Hogan (spouse, Michael Hogan); and Sarah Gadol Mitchum (spouse, Travis Mitchum); his grandson John (“Jack”) William Gadol; and seven siblings, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews. Bill was born on October 14, 1942, to William Norman and Martha Irwin Gadol in Covington, KY. He had two sisters and became brother to five additional siblings when Martha married Les Molter, several years after William’s passing. Bill accomplished so much in his rich 80 years of life, including serving as a US Army Military Police Sergeant and a firefighter / paramedic and corporate emergency medical systems consultant to the FBI, US Secret Service, the National Football League, the National Ski Patrol, the Special Operations commands for all branches of the US Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security. He also served as a Senior Instructor for EMTs, AEMTs, and Instructor Trainer for CPR/AED for the American Heart Association, Instructor Trainer for Basic and Advanced First Aid for the American Red Cross and as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff assigned to the "Seahawk" Federal Anti-Terrorism Task Force. He was a Kentucky Colonel, a Life Member of the Special Operations Medical Association, an Instructor for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for the Proprietary Security program (SafeGuard SC), a SCSLED Firearms Instructor, a SC CWP Instructor, a member of the FBI InfraGard and President of his own company that helped connect small businesses with the military for over three decades. He was awarded a "Friend of the Regiment" by the US Army Surgeon General, and a "Certificate of Appreciation" by the White House Medical Unit. He also served as an Elder and as Director of Security for Seacoast Community Church in Mt. Pleasant. His true passion in his later years was keeping the Body of Christ safe in churches around the country, and he worked tirelessly to help educate and train others to do the same. He was an active member of the Faith Based Security Network and enjoyed his work with this organization. He was a published author, writing two books on church security protocols, and a leader and mentor to many. More than any of these achievements, though, we remember the man Bill was. He loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, with every fiber of his being, and spent his life in service of God. He met the true love of his life, Karen, when he was 60 years old, and that love sustained him through the end of his life. He was a man of integrity and character, optimism and good humor. He was selfless and generous, compassionate and tender-hearted, and always ready with a “daddy hug” to anyone who needed it. He was a loving, doting father to his three children and grandson, and an “honorary dad” to more people than we can name. An entire community of people feel the loss of this vibrant, sharp-witted, and kind man, who looked out for the well-being of others at all times. He is the true example of the “watchman on the wall.” Our lives are immeasurably benefitted by the time spent with him, and we will mourn his loss greatly, while rejoicing that his body is fully healed in the presence of Jesus. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Monday, May 1st, at Seacoast Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's honor can be made to Seacoast Missions (750 Longpoint Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29464) or to the Tunnel to Towers organization (t2t.org).

William Gadol Jr.

October 14, 1942 - April 13, 2023