Gabe Rygaard (2025): Ax Men Star’s Life, Family, Legacy & Tragic Death

Ax Men, the History Channel reality series that followed logging crews through dangerous and high-stakes work in America’s forests, brought Gabe into the public eye. It has now been nine years since the sudden passing of Gabe Rygaard, a figure who left an unmistakable mark on both the forests of Washington State and the television screens of millions. On September 16, 2016, the logging industry and reality TV community were stunned by the news that Gabe had died in a tragic accident at just 45 years old. His loss was felt deeply, not only by his family and crew but also by the countless viewers who came to know him through the History Channel’s hit series Ax Men.

As the leader of Rygaard Logging, the company founded by his father Craig, Gabe became one of the most recognizable faces on Ax Men. From Seasons 2 through 9, he appeared not only as a logger but as the person who kept the family business running, overseeing crews, equipment, and contracts in a profession known for its hazards. His role highlighted the realities of working in steep terrain, handling massive loads, and making decisions that directly affected the safety of his team and the survival of the company.

Nearly a decade later, this article looks back at Gabe’s journey on Ax Men—a show that exposed the risks loggers faced each day—and at how his leadership kept Rygaard Logging central to both the series and the industry. Readers will find not only his story on television, but also the legacy he left in his community and family.

Early Life and Background

Gabe Rygaard (Gabriel Martin Rygaard) was born on August 3, 1971, in Port Angeles, Washington, to Craig and Kathy Rygaard. He grew up in a timber town where logging shaped both the economy and local culture, and the forests of the Pacific Northwest became central to his upbringing.

He graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1989 and later attended Peninsula College, staying close to his family roots. In 1992, Craig founded Rygaard Logging, giving Gabe the foundation for what would become his life’s work. From an early age, he gained hands-on experience with equipment, safety practices, and the challenges of steep, rugged terrain, preparing him for future leadership.

As the eldest child, Gabe grew up alongside his younger brother Jason Rygaard. Both spent their youth around logging operations, learning the trade firsthand. Gabe naturally took on leadership roles, while Jason later joined him as a partner in the family business. Their shared experiences in Port Angeles laid the groundwork for their later partnership on Ax Men and within Rygaard Logging.

Career in Logging and Ax Men

By the time Ax Men launched, Gabe Rygaard was already deeply involved in the family logging business. He made his debut in Season 2 and went on to become one of the show’s most visible and influential figures, appearing through Season 9 and credited in at least 70 episodes.

Early Seasons: Foundations and Challenges

In the early years of Ax Men, Gabe was not only managing logging operations but also adjusting to the demands of reality TV. In Season 3 (2010), filmed in the Olympic Peninsula, Rygaard Logging faced steep slopes, heavy rainfall, and snapped skyline cables that brought work to a halt. Gabe directed emergency fixes and crew rotations to keep production moving, highlighting his ability to manage crises under extreme conditions.

By Season 4 (2010–11), the company was expanding into remote, inaccessible sites. Gabe oversaw a helicopter skyline setup, where helicopters delivered rigging cables to ridge lines, a dangerous but necessary task. Episodes showed him balancing ground crew communication, mechanical troubleshooting, and tight production deadlines. The season also documented breakdowns of their yarder and machinery, with Gabe pushing to repair equipment quickly to avoid financial losses. These challenges gave viewers a detailed look at both the technical and managerial sides of his leadership.

Season 5: High Stakes and Close Calls

Season 5 (2012) brought heightened competition as crews raced for the highest load counts. Rygaard Logging tackled blowdown zones—forests flattened by storms—and cliffside jobs requiring precise felling. In one episode, Gabe’s miscalculation caused a tree to fall on a trailer truck, a near-disaster that underscored the ever-present dangers of logging. Load quotas became a defining theme: Rygaard ended the season with 2,231 loads, barely surpassing rival Papac Logging’s 2,229. This razor-thin margin dramatized the stakes of the industry, where every load could determine profit or loss. Gabe’s steady focus on safety, efficiency, and competition kept his team in contention even as tempers flared and equipment failures mounted.

Season 6: Leadership Transition

In Season 6 (2012–13), Ax Men documented a major turning point for the Rygaard family. Craig Rygaard remained active on the mountain through much of the season but began stepping back after decades in charge. By the finale, titled Fight to the Finish Line, Craig formally retired from logging, marking the end of his long career. The episode included a heartfelt moment as Gabe organized a surprise for his father on his last day, underscoring the generational handover.

With Craig’s gradual departure, Gabe became the principal decision-maker for Rygaard Logging. He was shown managing production targets, handling machinery breakdowns, and mediating disputes, all while carrying the weight of financial stability. The season also carried an emotional dedication to logger Jimmy Smith, who passed away in November 2012, reminding viewers of the real-life dangers of the industry. Season 6 therefore captured both the personal shift within Rygaard Logging and the sobering reality that the work was always life and death.

Later Seasons: Tensions, Competition, and Crises

In Season 7 (2013–14), Rygaard Logging was under constant strain to meet quotas and outpace veteran competitors. This season also captured the return of Gabe’s younger brother Jason to the crew, a move Gabe called “nothing short of brotherly love.” Gabe recalled how the company began with Craig financing equipment while he handled rigging, later bringing Jason in before he left to pursue his own path.

Their partnership brought both loyalty and conflict. Jason reflected: “One big plus is it’s my brother, it’s my family. I know him, he knows me. I don’t have to guess what he’s thinking—I pretty much already know.” Gabe responded in kind: “He’s stubborn and bullheaded, likes to do things his way. We tend to butt heads a little bit.”

Episodes showed their heated exchanges, with Jason insisting, “I ain’t here to be a whipping post,” and even threatening to walk away. These moments highlighted the difficulty of separating family ties from business, while underscoring the authenticity of their on‑screen relationship.

The finale delivered one of Gabe’s most dramatic moments: in a last‑minute scramble to meet the season’s target, Jason overturned a fully loaded trailer, a stark reminder of the dangers of pushing both men and machines to the limit.

Season 7 also revealed Gabe admitting he was in over his head, a rare moment of vulnerability for the new company head. At times he turned to veteran loggers for support, reflecting the immense responsibility he carried after Craig’s retirement and the challenge of keeping the company afloat under relentless pressure.

Season 8: Mounting Pressure

In Season 8 (2014–15), Rygaard Logging continued to feature prominently, though the challenges mounted. Gabe introduced a veteran “wild‑card” logger, DJ Jeremiah, in an attempt to boost the crew’s strength. However, DJ quickly clashed with expectations. Gabe later recounted how he gave DJ clear rules—“I told him right up front what I was and wasn’t going to put up with”—but after repeated no‑shows, he made the decision to fire him, stating bluntly, “You made a really stupid choice… you’re done.” The episode highlighted Gabe’s no‑nonsense approach to discipline and the difficulties of keeping a consistent workforce.

Episodes also showed repeated machinery breakdowns that delayed production, forcing Gabe to balance urgent repairs with keeping quotas on track. At one point, Rygaard Logging was left without a yarder operator and only one man in the rigging, leaving the company on the verge of collapse. Gabe admitted, “It gets harder and harder to keep going, trying to keep a crew together,” but instead of giving up he called back former crew members who had worked with Rygaard Logging for nearly a decade. Veterans like Fernando and Roger returned, motivated by loyalty to Craig, whom they described as a father figure. Gabe expressed his gratitude, telling them, “Without the crew there’s no Rygaard Logging…I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.” Their return stabilized operations and underscored the deep loyalty that Craig and Gabe inspired in their men. The remote and rugged sites of the Pacific Northwest required complex skyline setups, demonstrating Gabe’s adaptability as both foreman and manager.

This season also included a devastating setback for the family. Craig Rygaard suffered a serious logging accident that left him with a knee injury requiring surgery and months of recovery.

The Season 8 finale also provided a lighter moment, showing Gabe organizing a friendly obstacle course competition for his crew. Yarder engineers and rigging men went head‑to‑head, with Gabe offering cash prizes for the winners. Although he joked about being out of shape, the contest highlighted his camaraderie with the team and closed the season on a more upbeat note after a year filled with setbacks and challenges.

Season 9: Carrying the Legacy

In Season 9, Gabe spoke candidly about the toll of losing his longtime partner on the mountain, noting that Craig had been at his side for more than 25 years. Craig himself appeared on camera reflecting on his surgery, recovery, and the heartbreak of being sidelined from the woods he loved. This left Gabe with full responsibility for the company’s survival and the weight of carrying the family business alone.

This season also marked the first appearance of Gabe’s son Aiden on the mountain. In Episode 5, cameras documented Aiden’s first day working in the rigging under Gabe’s supervision. A near accident occurred when Aiden lost track of chokers and signaled too early, creating a dangerous situation that required immediate correction. Gabe used the moment to emphasize the importance of safety protocols and precise communication, underscoring how quickly inexperience could escalate into life‑threatening risk. The episode portrayed Gabe’s mix of pride and concern—on one hand, introducing his son into the family trade, and on the other, questioning whether exposing him to logging was the right choice. Aiden’s debut became both a milestone for the family and a clear illustration of the generational weight and hazards tied to passing the business to the next generation.

The season followed Gabe negotiating timber contracts, coordinating hauls in increasingly difficult terrain, and contending with rivals like Papac Logging under stricter deadlines. Crews across the series operated in regions as far‑flung as Alaska, Oregon, and British Columbia, underscoring the scale of competition. For Rygaard Logging, the emphasis was on whether Gabe’s leadership could keep the company viable as financial and operational pressures converged. These challenges, combined with Aiden’s introduction to the crew and Craig’s absence after his injury, highlighted the personal and professional weight Gabe carried in the final seasons.

Tragic Passing and Legacy

On September 16, 2016, Gabe was killed in a three-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 101 near Port Angeles. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at Olympic Medical Center. He was just 44 years old.

His death came shortly after Season 9, where viewers saw him managing contracts, ensuring crew safety, and guiding his son Aiden through his first days in the rigging. By then, Gabe was recognized as the face of Rygaard Logging, symbolizing both the dangers of logging and the resilience required to endure in the industry.

This loss sent shockwaves through both his hometown of Port Angeles and the television community. Fellow Ax Men star—and also Ice Road Truckers cast member—Todd Dewey, who was Gabe’s cousin, shared an emotional message on social media describing Gabe as not only his cousin but also a best friend and brother figure. He remembered Gabe as “a badass brother, a dedicated husband, and the best father you could dream of having,” adding that his loss left him at a complete loss for words.

Shelby Stanga, another well-known Ax Men personality, wrote with a heavy heart that while Gabe was often portrayed on television as a gruff and aggressive boss, in real life he was the opposite—highly motivated, supportive, and always pushing his people to do their best. Shelby emphasized how much Gabe would be missed by his family and urged fans to remember that reality TV did not fully capture the kindness and drive of the man off-screen.

Neighbor and family friend Steve Temple added his own reflections, recalling memories of Gabe as a child in Port Angeles—curious, energetic, and always around his father’s equipment. He noted that Gabe seemed destined for the woods from the start, and he praised the love and respect the Rygaard family inspired in their community. Temple offered heartfelt words to Craig, Kathy, Jason, and Gabe’s wife and children, reminding them to hold on to their faith and the strength of those around them. His tribute also captured Gabe’s lighter side, recalling how he could even crush a golf ball with the same force he brought to his work in the logging world.

These tributes collectively described Gabe as more than a television personality. They emphasized his loyalty to family, his generosity to friends and co-workers, and his role as a figure of resilience within the logging community. For fans and fellow loggers, his death represented the loss of someone who embodied the grit, sacrifice, and responsibility that define America’s logging tradition.

Personal Life: Wife and Children

Away from the cameras, Gabe was a husband and father. He was married to Katy Rygaard, and together they had three children: Aiden, Hunter, and Trilby Joelle Ashley. His son Aiden even appeared on Ax Men alongside him, giving the show a multigenerational perspective.

Katy has continued to honor Gabe publicly in the years since his passing. On the seventh anniversary of his death in 2023, she remembered him as “Husband, Father, Coach, Friend and everything in between,” adding that not a day goes by without him being honored and remembered. She also reflected on how proud Gabe would have been of their children, noting Aiden’s 18th birthday and the accomplishments of Trilby and Hunter. On what would have been his 53rd birthday in August 2024, she shared another tribute: “Hopefully you are smiling down from Heaven like you were smiling in this picture. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Gabriel Martin. You are deeply missed.”

These family tributes show how Gabe’s presence continues to be felt long after his passing. They also provide a bridge to his broader role in the Port Angeles community, where he remained active beyond logging. In 2016, he ran in the Republican primary for Clallam County commissioner, reflecting his interest in public service and leadership. Beyond politics, he often participated in local charity and fundraising events. For example, at the 125th annual 76 Ball auction in Port Angeles, he helped raise money for the local hospital by donating packages and encouraging bids. He emphasized that Rygaard Logging was more than just a business—it was a family deeply connected to its community. “What money we do make we turn around a good percentage of that and we give it right back,” he explained during the event. His involvement in such causes underscored his belief that small-town values were built on neighbors helping neighbors and giving back whenever possible.

Gabe Rygaard: Quick Facts (Wiki-style)

Full Name	Gabriel Martin Rygaard
Born	August 3, 1971 – Port Angeles, Washington, U.S.
Died	September 16, 2016 (aged 45) – Port Angeles, Washington, U.S.
Cause of Death	Car accident (three-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 101)
Parents	Craig Rygaard and Kathy Rygaard
Siblings	Jason Rygaard (younger brother)
Spouse	Katy Rygaard
Children	Aiden Rygaard, Hunter Rygaard, Trilby Ashley Rygaard
Education	Port Angeles High School (1989); Peninsula College
Occupation	Logger, Television Personality, Businessman
Years Active	1992–2016 (Rygaard Logging); 2009–2016 (Ax Men)
Known For	Ax Men (History Channel, Seasons 2–9)
Political Career	Ran for Clallam County Commissioner (2016, Republican primary)
Notable Legacy	President of Rygaard Logging, key figure in Ax Men, remembered for leadership and dedication to family legacy