FREDERICK, Md. -

Former National Auto Auction Association president Gregg Kobel passed away Thursday at age 67, NAAA said in a condolences message Monday.

Kobel was the 2007-2008 NAAA president and also served as president and director of the Midwest Auto Auction Association, NAAA said.

NAAA also recognized Kobel with its annual Industry Pioneer Award at last year's convention in Orlando, Fla. 

Visitation is Tuesday from 3 p.m. (CT) to 9 p.m. at the Richard J. Modell Funeral Home in Homer Glen, Ill. Funeral services are at the same location at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, with a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Bernard church in Homer Glen.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are encouraged at www.alz.org.

Kobel joined the auction business in 1969 when Auction Way Auto Auction opened in Crestwood, Ill., eventually becoming general manager and vice president for that auction and Greater Chicago Auto Auction. Both were subsequently purchased by General Electric (1987) and then Manheim (1991); Kobel would remain GM throughout, the association said in its statement.

In 1996, Kobel and Tom Crane bought an auction in Crestwood and renamed it Tri-State Auto Auction.

Kobel eventually moved over to South Bend Mishawaka Auto Auction, where he was GM and vice president. He was named executive VP of that auction in 2011.